Stranded in cars, 19 tourists die in Murree

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): With their cars stranded by snowfall and traffic congestion in Pakistan’s northwestern tourist resort of Murree, up to 19 people have died, the interior minister said on Saturday.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said tourists had streamed to the hill station in large numbers for the first time in 15 to 20 years.

In a video message, he said Rawalpindi and Islamabad officials, along with police, had been trying to rescue the stranded individuals.

Five platoons of the Pakistan Army. Rangers and Frontier Corps have been called in on an emergency basis to help the stranded people.

Rashid said around 1,000 cars were stuck on the hill station. “We have rescued some and turned back others. Sixteen to 19 deaths have occurred inside cars.”

Murree residents provided food and blankets to those stranded, the minister added. All routes to the area have been closed.

Amid an ongoing rescue operation, the Punjab chief minister said that over 23,000 cars were pulled out of the area the night before.

mud

Visits: 209