Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has confirmed that at least 16 people have died due to suffocation due to cold and appealed to the citizens not to turn to Queen Kohsar.
In a video message, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that for the first time in Pakistan such a large number of tourists have turned to Murree which has created a major crisis and we have had to close the traffic to Murree, and A rescue operation is underway to rescue the trapped people.
The Home Minister said that one thousand vehicles have been stranded since last night, some vehicles have been sent back and some have been evacuated. The administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is trying to rescue the victims. During sowfall we at 24/7 on roads helping & facilitating the tourists.#Murree #snow@RwpPolice pic.twitter.com/UcdGXcqSvv
Sheikh Rashid said that about 16 to 19 people have been killed in the vehicles. Residents of the area have delivered food and blankets to the victims in the vehicles.
The Home Minister said that all the roads leading to Murree have been closed, they will decide to stop pedestrians from dying, only those carrying aid are being allowed to die. Worst condition in #Murree right now. Govt is requested to kindly send help to those visitors 😔😔 pic.twitter.com/Lm1Bh5lzH9
He said that the administration tried to save the people all night but what Allah had approved happened, during which 16 to 19 deaths occurred but all the other people are safe and they are being shifted to safer places. Stop this stupidity of sharing videos of dead people in Murree.
It's a very tragic day. Have some shame please. It's very unethical to share such videos.
Just pray for them.#Pakistan#Murree pic.twitter.com/7Ci0nrm9WV
He said that one thousand vehicles would be rescued by evening.
Earlier, in a statement issued on Twitter, Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that a large number of people have turned to Murree due to which despite 12 hours of efforts, we have failed to open the way to Murree.
Sheikh Rashid appealed to the dying tourists not to visit Murree at this time as due to the large number of tourists coming from all over the world, there is a crisis of accommodation and blankets in Murree, while the severity of cold is increasing.
"We are trying to rescue those trapped in Murree and I am personally overseeing the arrangements," he said.
Tourists stranded in heavy snowfall have appealed to the government for rescue via Twitter. بریکنگ: جیسا کہ خدشہ تھا مری اور گلیات میں شدید برف نے انسانی المیے کی شکل اختیار کر لی۔۔
متعدد ہلاکتوں کی اطلاعات ۔۔ ریسکیو کی کوششیں ناکافی۔۔۔
pic.twitter.com/HU0RVLtjtJ
Twitter users have appealed to tourists to be careful not to die in the current situation.
Pak army troops called
Pakistan Army troops have been called in to rescue people trapped in heavy snowfall in Queen Kohsar Murree.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said in a video message that Commissioner Rawalpindi, DC Islamabad, police were also involved in the operation, while 5 platoons of Pakistan Army have been called in and FC and Rangers have been called on emergency basis. مری سے انتہائی افسوسناک خبر آ رہی ہے، کیا کوئی اس کی تصدیق کر سکتا ہے؟
سیاح حضرات سے بھی گزارش ہے کے خدارا اپنے ساتھ اور دوسروں کے ساتھ ظلم نا کریں۔۔ اتنے خراب موسم میں مری جانا کسی مصیبت کا باعث بن سکتا ہے۔ ہماری حکومت سو رہی ہے، اُس نے کسی صورت نہیں جاگنا! #Murree pic.twitter.com/ExWzDLbEH6
It may be recalled that the Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had said in a statement on social networking site Twitter yesterday that due to the snowfall, there is a huge rush of tourists in Murree and Galyat at present and more than one lakh vehicles are plying in Islamabad. The road to Murree and Galyat has gone. #snowstorms#Murree
Need to declared emergency in murree and galiyat pic.twitter.com/Tzfq88qTg5
"Due to the increasing rush, tourists have been temporarily barred from going to Murree and Galyat," he said.
"It is requested to postpone your plans at this time. The ban on leaving Islamabad will remain in force till Sunday," he said.
If the tourists had been informed, such an incident would not have happened, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The way traffic is jammed every year enroute #Murree .. A train route to #Murree and Muzafarabad is need of the hour! Also it is necessary to develop new tourist venues to off load this single hill station in Punjab!
pic.twitter.com/ciR6LWZDda
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while expressing sorrow over the deaths in Murree said that the whole country is mourning over the tragic tragedy in Murree.
He said that it would have been better if tourists had been informed about the serious situation in Murree so that such a tragedy would not have taken place.
He said that the administration should take immediate steps to help the tourists.
What steps has the government taken to deal with the situation in Murree, Shahbaz Sharif said. Plz avoid to go murree in these days@aaliaaaliya #Murree pic.twitter.com/HGKMdQzKld
Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif expressed sorrow and grief over the deaths in vehicles stuck in rush hour in Murree and Galyat and termed the incident as administrative negligence.
He said in a tweet that the government has taken steps to deal with the situation.
Shahbaz Sharif said that death of citizens in vehicles stuck in traffic rush in Murree and Galyat is a tragic incident of administrative incompetence and criminal negligence.
He said that it was a testament to the administrative capacity of this government that it was not even capable of making traffic arrangements in Murree and Galyat.
