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1000’s arrived in Murree amid snowstorm regardless of govt appeals to postpone plans
ISLAMABAD: A minimum of 21 individuals, together with 9 youngsters, have died in freezing temperatures after being caught of their automobiles within the Pakistani hill station of Murree, authorities and rescue officers mentioned on Saturday, as vacationers have been stranded in a single day on roads in a disaster that has trapped 1000’s.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals arrived in Murree over the previous two days to see the snow, regardless of appeals by authorities to postpone plans due to unhealthy climate and roadblocks.
The Pakistan Meteorological Division had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and the Galiyat mountain area from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9.
On Saturday, the native administration declared Murree, 64 kilometers northeast of the capital Islamabad, “calamity hit,” with lengthy strains of automobiles caught within the resort city after a snowstorm making the roads impassable, stranding motorists with out meals and water within the freezing chilly.
In keeping with a listing issued by the Rescue 1122 emergency service, 21 individuals died within the freezing climate, together with 9 youngsters.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grief and ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“Shocked and upset on the tragic deaths of vacationers on the highway to Murree,” he mentioned in a tweet.
HIGLIGHT
In keeping with a listing issued by the Rescue 1122 emergency service, 21 individuals died within the freezing climate, together with 9 youngsters.
“Unprecedented snowfall and a rush of individuals continuing with out checking climate situations caught the district administration unprepared. I’ve ordered an inquiry and powerful rules to make sure the prevention of such tragedies.”
Earlier within the day, Inside Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed mentioned that it was the primary time in about 20 years that so many individuals had flocked to the hill station.
“Between 16 and 19 individuals died of their automobiles,” he mentioned in a video message. “Now we’re permitting automobiles carrying blankets and meals.”
The minister mentioned that the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations and police have been working to rescue the stranded, and that 5 military platoons, Rangers and Frontier Corps had additionally been known as in.
The military introduced on Saturday afternoon that it had established 4 camps within the space, a “management division” and rescue facilities.
“Heavy equipment from the Murree military engineers division and Frontier Works Group is working with none pause to help people who find themselves struck,” the military’s media wing mentioned. “Troops are out within the area. The place equipment can’t attain, troops have been moved and they’re clearing site visitors and opening roads.”
On Friday night, the Islamabad administration introduced that it was closing roads resulting in Murree for the remainder of the weekend “within the public curiosity.”
For hours in a single day and nicely after dawn on Saturday, 1000’s of automobiles lined the snow-clogged roadway as drivers grew more and more determined and exasperated by what gave the impression to be a gradual response by authorities.
Officers in Rawalpindi, which is adjoining to Islamabad, mentioned on Saturday that greater than 23,000 stranded automobiles had been evacuated from Murree.
“Round 1000 are nonetheless stranded. The district administration is working around the clock to evacuate the remaining automobiles safely,” the Deputy Commissioner’s Workplace in Rawalpindi mentioned in a Twitter publish on Saturday morning.
A robust westerly wind hit Pakistan’s western and northern areas earlier this week, bringing heavy rain and snowfall. It’s forecast to stay till Sunday.
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