A deadly traffic jam caused by tens of thousands of visitors crowding the Pakistani hill town, Murree takes the lives of at least 21 people on Saturday.
Police 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.
The unusually heavy snowfall and snowstorm contributed to the long traffic jam which resulted in the heart-wrenching tragedy of travellers freezing to death.
Pakistani officials and Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed the happening
Prime Minister Imran Khan says he is shocked and extremely upset by the tragedy.
He tweeted about the incident “Unprecedented snowfall & rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared,”
In the context of the action from the government side on the incident Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid said the military had been mobilized to clear roads and to rescue thousands still trapped near Murree, around 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of the capital, Islamabad.
Helicopters were also on standby waiting for the weather to be clear.
He further spoke about the current situation and stated that residents had sheltered people trapped in the town and provided blankets and food to those they could reach on the outskirts. Also, the schools and government buildings had taken in those who could make it to the town from the clogged roads
The beautiful hill station turned into a disaster area
Murree is a resort town built by the British in the 19th century as a sanatorium for its colonial troops was a picture-perfect place nowadays with the winter snowfall. Some days prior videos of the people playing with the snow at the resort could be seen.
Authorities warned last weekend that too many vehicles were trying to enter Murree but to no avail. Tragically, Pakistan’s emergency service, Rescue 1122, released a list naming 21 people to be confirmed dead. This list included a Pakistani policeman and his family of wife and six children all froze to death in their car.
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