Preliminary report of Murree tragedy submitted to Punjab government 

Lahore: The preliminary report of the tragic incident that took place in Murree was submitted to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Bazdar on Sunday.

According to the report, the construction of main roads in Murree has not been repaired for previous two years while the other roads were blocked due to heavy snow. There were no machines of Highway Department for clearing snow from the exit routes as well as no arrangement of clearing snow on urgent basis were provided by the government.

“Due to non-availability of electricity convinced the tourists to sleep in the car park on the roads. There is also no parking plaza in Muree where vehicles can be parked. On January 7, four feet of snow fell within 16 hours. As many as 162,000 vehicles entered into Murree from January 3 to 7.” 

The report further stated that the traffic was blocked due to falling tree in sixteen points. At least 21,000 vehicles were sent back, 22 people were killed in 4 to 5 vehicles, these people died due to excessive carbon monoxide. “The deaths occurred due to excess carbon monoxide. The power has been restored across 70% of the areas,” conveyed the report.

Following to the report, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) expressed anger for not proper management of the traffic system and directed to take action over overcharging tourists. 

On the other hand, all major roads in Murree have been cleared for all types of traffic. 

According to the Inter-Service Public Relation (ISPR), after clearance of main roads, Army engineers are now focusing on link roads.

Relief camps, medical facilities are fully operating and Army transport is plying for moving of stranded tourists to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, operations for the evacuation of snow storm stranded tourists in Murree and Galyat are in full swing by Pakistan Air Force.

Spokesperson of the PAF said that during the rescue operations, PAF personnel have shifted more than 100 persons, including women and children at PAF Bases Kalabagh and Lower Topa. Shelter, food and medical facilities are being provided round the clock to the affected families by the rescue teams of PAF.

On the other hand, the Punjab government has announced to provide compensation to the families of the 23 people who died in Murree on Friday.

In statement, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar held a meeting with senior officials to discuss the situation in Murree. The meeting was attended by provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, chief secretary, senior member of Board of Revenue Punjab and others.

The chief minister was briefed that the situation in Murree had returned to normalcy. The Punjab government took a decision to compensate to the families of all those who lost their lives after being stuck on roads leading to Murree due to heavy snowfall during the meeting.

It was decided that the families of the dead will be provided financial assistance. The government will provide Rs800,000 compensation for each death in Murree, adding that Rs176 million has been approved in this regard. The aggrieved families will jointly receive Rs17.6 million in wake of financial assistance.

Meanwhile, at least 23 people have been killed after heavy snowfall covered Murree and other northern areas of Pakistan, hampering traffic and disrupting public transportation. 

The rescue operation, which was suspended earlier after night fell, has resumed as the sun is finally shining in Murree after two freezing and terrifying nights.

Earlier, Punjab government subsequently declared Murree a calamity hit area in view of the situation arising there because of heavy snowfall. Entry into the hill station is still banned. Only emergency and rescue vehicles have been allowed.

The rescue operation has resumed and personnel of the Pakistan Army, FWO, and NDMA are removing snow from main roads from cranes and other heavy machinery. They said 90% of the roads, Bara Kahu to Murree, Nathia Gali to Kuldana, Gika Gali, and Mall Road, have been cleared.

According to the NDMA Chairperson Lt-General Akhtar Nawaz, 600 to 700 vehicles have been evacuated. Over 5,000 cars have left Murree. "371 tourists have been shifted to the relief camps set up by the Pakistan Army before the night", the chairman NDMA said.

He further said that except for Bariyan, NathiaGali, and Abbottabad, all the roads have been cleared. "The situation is slowly coming back to normal."

On Saturday, the government imposed a restriction on the entry of tourists into Shogran, Naran, and Kaghan as well.

According to the notification from the office of Deputy Commissioner Mansehra, Tehsil Balakot, Naran, Kaghan and Shogran have been closed for all kinds of traffic due to the bad weather conditions.

Earlier, the Met Office had said that the weather in Murree will get better by Sunday afternoon and snowfall will stop which will help the rescue operations.

However, as the snow melts, expressways and highways heading to the hill station will become slippery increasing the chances of road accidents.

On Friday, thousands of tourists entered the hill station to enjoy the weather after the area received heavy snowfall—causing heavy traffic jams on Murree-Islamabad Motorway. It has been reported that over 100,000 vehicles entered the hill station.