Image source, ISPR
At least 21 people have been killed in a series of snowstorms in northern Pakistan.
Troops are trying to rescue those trapped near the mountain town of Murray.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said about 1,000 vehicles were stranded on the highway during the blizzard.
Image source, Punjab Police, Pakistan
Murray is a mountain town north of the capital Islamabad. Local media reported on Friday that tourists were stranded due to the snowfall.
More than a million cars have entered Murray in the past few days to see unusually heavy snowfall. As a result, the roads leading in and out of the city were heavily congested, police said.
Image source, Punjab Police, Pakistan
At least six people froze to death in their cars. But police say it is not yet clear how the others died. There is a possibility of suffocation after inhaling the smoke.
The area has now been declared a disaster area and people have been advised to stay away.
“People are facing a terrible situation,” Usman Abbasi, a tourist trapped in the city amid heavy snowfall, told AFP.
Image source, Punjab Police, Pakistan
“Not only tourists, but also locals are facing serious problems like gas and water shortages,” he said.
“For the first time in 15 to 20 years, such a large number of tourists flocked to Murray. This created a major crisis,” Rashid said in a video release.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his shock over the deaths of tourists.
“I have ordered an inquiry and laid down strong rules to ensure that such tragedies are prevented,” Imran Khan said in a tweet.
Image source, ISPR
Murray was built by the British in the 19th century as a medical base for colonial troops.
What happened?
Known as the “Queen of the Hills,” the mountain town of Murray is a popular winter tourist destination. Hundreds of vehicles congested the roads leading to the area, forcing thousands of commuters to spend the night on the road under heavy snowfall.
Tourists are currently barred from entering the affected area. The government has closed the Islamabad-Murray highway. In addition, a state of emergency has been declared in Murray and its surrounding districts.
Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to assist civilian administration in rescue and relief operations.
