While families of the victims blame the government for not properly warning the public, PM Khan’s Tweet appeared to blame the tourists for negligence.
Instead of enjoying the snow-clad Pakistani mountainside town of Murree, at least 22 people froze to death inside their vehicles, local officials reported on Saturday.
“For the first time in 15 to 20 years, such large number of tourists flocked to Murree, which created a big crisis,” Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan's interior minister said in a video message.
After declaring the hill station a calamity-hit area, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he was “shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.”
Pakistan’s meteorological department predicted snowfall from January 6 to 9, prompting tourists to flock to the mountainside to witness it against appeals by authorities to postpone travel.
Due to heavy snowfall that day and the rush of tourists, the government announced the closure of all routes in the Rawalpindi district, leaving many helpless on the roads.
Over 100,000 vehicles entered the hill station.
Videos shared on social media showed entire families, including children, lying dead in their snow-covered vehicles.
While families of the victims blame the government for not properly warning the public, PM Khan’s Tweet appeared to blame the tourists for negligence.
“Unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather condition caught district admin unprepared,” it read.
Officials have given no word on the causes of the deaths.
Tags: #Pakistan, #deaths, #snowstorm, #Murree