- Suffocation, not cold weather, likely cause of death
MURREE: Civil and military authorities evacuated all the trapped tourists to safety Saturday night after 22 tourists died inside their respective cars after being trapped in one of the worst snowstorms the hill-station witnessed in decades. The death toll increased to 23 as the girl who was pulled out alive from under snow dies on way to hospital.
Met office has predicted another snowstorm for the hilly areas of Murree during Saturday night as authorities are preparing for the challenge.
“All stranded vehicles have been checked. All people in those vehicles shifted to relief camps. Military Engineers troops and dozers currently working to clear snow on Road Jheeka Gali-Kuldanna and Road Kuldanna – Barian,” said the ISPR.
“More than 300 snow-affected people including children have been provided medical care by team of army doctors and paramedics. Cooked meal served to more that 1000 stranded people in Jheekagali, Kashmiri Bazar, Lower Topa and Kuldana. Stranded People have been accommodated & provided shelter with hot meals and tea at Military College Murree , Supply Depot, APS and Army Logistics School Kuldana,” the ISPR added.
About road clearance, the ISPR Jhika Gali Traffic is plying from Jhika Gali to Expressway. Jhika Gali to Kuldana traffic is cleared, however, no traffic is plying due to slippery conditions. Gharial to Bhurban track is open and traffic is plying over.
Army Engineers troops with road clearance machinery were working continuously for road clearance at Kuldana to Barian road.
Earlier, federal government deployed personnel of the Pakistan Army and other civil-armed forces for rescue operations in the calamity-hit Murree following the tragic deaths of at least 22 tourists who died in their vehicles after being stranded due to heavy snowfall in the area.
All the routes in and around Murree were blocked for traffic after thousands of vehicles entered the city which witnessed “unprecedented snowfall” in decades, according to local administration.
The dead bodies included Zahid S/o Zahoor, 27y, Kamal Abad, was riding Carry Bolan; Ishfaq S/o Younis, Age: 31y, Gujranwala, CAR LEA 9312; Maroof S/O Ashraf , Age: 31y, Lahore, CAR LEA 9312; Unknown Male, 30y, Lahore, CAR LEA 9312; Naveed Iqbal S/O Muraqab (ASI Islamabad Police); 49y, Islamabad, CAR 483; MRS Naveed Iqbal, 43y, CAR 483; 04 Daughters and 02 Children of Naveed Iqbal (Name unknown); Sohail Khan S/o Fazal Khan, 27y, Mardan, CAR VXR NG-424; Asad S/O Zaman Shah, 22y, Mardan, CAR VXR-424; M Bilal S/o Ghaffar, 21y, Mardan, CAR VXR-424; M Bilal Hussain s/o Syed Ghous Khan, 24y, Karachi, CAR VXR-424; M Shahzad S/o Ismail , 46y, Rawalpindi; Mrs Shahzad, 35y; Two Children of Shahzad. Another two unidentified bodies were recovered. All dead bodies shifted to Army School of logistics.
Pakistan army joins rescue operation:
The interior minister said five platoons of the Pakistan Army have been called in for rescue efforts, while Rangers and Frontier Corps will be deployed on an emergency basis.
“At least 1,000 vehicles have been stuck since last night […] some have been evacuated; 16-19 deaths took place in cars. The locals provided food and blankets to the stranded people.”
ISPR said that all the stranded people are being shifted to 5 army relief camps established at Murree where food and shelter will be provided to people affected by heavy snow fall.
“Army relief centre has been established at Army School of Technicians Barian, Military college Murre, Jhika Gali, APS Kuldana, Station supply Depot Sunny Bank. FWO dozers and army engineers are busy to keep roads open. Murree Express opened and cleared for any fresh snow by NHA/ FWO/Army Engineers,” the statement said.
All resources at the disposal of Muree division in terms of engineers machinery mobilised and will remain in the field till all people are evacuated, the statement said and added that special arrangements are made to evacuate people on military transport.
“Central Control Division has been established at Murree Division. Rescue centres have been established at APS and Army School of Logistics Kuldana. All relief camps have been provided with heating arrangements. Heavy machinery from Murre, army engineers Division and FWO are working without any pause to assist people who are struck. Troops are out in the field. Where machinery can’t reach, troops have been moved and they are clearing traffic and opening roads,” the statement added.
In a video message, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said the crisis unfolded as Murree witnessed “a huge number of tourists after 15-20 years”.
Rasheed said the government was forced to close the road from Islamabad to Murree. “Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s commissioners, deputy commissioners, and police are carrying out rescue operations,” he said.
Citing police officials, AFP reported that at least six people had frozen to death in their cars, while it was not immediately clear if others had died from asphyxiation after inhaling fumes in the snowdrift.
Ateeq Ahmed, an officer with Islamabad police, said eight of the fatalities were from the family of fellow capital police officer Naveed Iqbal, who also died.
The interior minister said the authorities would evacuate 1,000 vehicles by today evening, while the roads would remain closed to Murree till Sunday 9pm.
“We have also decided to ban tourists who are planning on coming to Murree on foot; this is not the time to come to Murree,” Rasheed said.
‘Tourists did not die of cold’:
SHO Murree Police Station Raja Rasheed that there has been over 4 to 4.5 feet of snowfall in Murree which never received this much snowfall.
He said that most of the people who died in Murree did not die due to the cold, they died as they left their heaters on in the car and went to sleep.
“The fumes from the heater killed them.”
Punjab declares Murree calamity-hit area:
The Punjab government has declared Murree as a calamity-hit area after heavy snowfall wreaked havoc in the city. Taking notice of the chaos and emergency situation, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar directed to open the government’s offices and rest houses for the stranded tourists.
He directed to provide every possible relief to the tourists and accelerate the ongoing rescue operation to evacuate the people from the hill station.
The chief minister ordered to move additional resources from Rawalpindi and other cities to Murree to speed up the relief operation.
CM Buzdar also directed to send his official helicopter to Murree for the rescue mission.
Prime Minister orders probe:
Prime Minister Imran Khan, responding to the incident, said: “Shocked and upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree.”
He mentioned that “unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district administration unprepared”.
The prime minister said he has ordered an inquiry into the matter and was putting in place a “strong regulation” to ensure the prevention of such tragedies in the future.
Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 8, 2022
Snowstorm:
According to the local administration, rain and blizzards are also forecast on Sunday night in and around Murree, with thunderstorms at a speed of 50-90 kmph and heavy snowfall.
The administration has warned the citizens not to leave their homes in severe weather or turn to Murree as severe weather conditions are likely to continue till late at night.
Govt appeals to postpone plan for a few days:
Earlier, Sheikh Rasheed had appealed to the tourists, especially families, to refrain from travelling to Murree and Galyat.
He had maintained that the tourists will not be allowed to go beyond 17 Mile Interchange. However, citizens with an extreme emergency will be granted permission to travel to Murree and Galyat.
Similarly, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that a large number of vehicles were heading towards Murree and other hilly areas, making it impossible for the local administration to facilitate them.
Murree receives 17 inches snowfall:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that Murree has received 17 inches of snow in the last 24 hours. It added that more rains and snowfall are expected tonight that will continue till Sunday.
As per the Met Office, Murree has received 32 inches of snow and 94 mm of rain since January 3.
RESCUE OPERATION BY PAF:
On the special instructions of PAF Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, the air force’s Kalabagh and Lower Topa bases are actively participating in relief operations in the affected areas. Crisis management cells have also been established at both bases to facilitate the stranded personnel and families. Shelter, food, warm clothing and medical facilities are being provided to the tourists stuck in heavy snow.
During the operations, PAF personnel have rescued a number of families and shifted them to safe places.
Following the improvement in weather conditions, helicopter operations will also be started for evacuation of the stranded tourists.
Opposition leaders express sorrow:
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in snow storm in Murree and other northern areas.
Shehbaz, in a tweet, said: “My profound condolences and sympathies are with the bereaved families. May Allah rest the departed souls in peace”.
What a massive tragedy Murree is turning out to be! Heartbroken to learn about the loss of so many precious lives. My profound condolences & sympathies are with the bereaved families. May Allah rest the departed souls in peace!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 8, 2022
He blamed the government for the tragedy and asked where the government was all the while and what arrangements did it make to deal with such an influx.
Incompetence is fast turning into criminality, he added.
He further said that prior arrangements and round the clock supervision were the normal SOPs in the past.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Murree tragedy is heart wrenching. She added that government’s job is not only to count the number of tourists but also make arrangements for them.
These people did not die of snow but from incompetence of the government, she added.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the entire nation is saddened over the unfortunate incident in Murree.
“It would have been better had [the administration] informed the tourists about the weather situation in Murree […] the administration should immediately begin rescue services for the tourists,” he added.
