22 dead as heavy snow traps vehicles in Pakistan

At least 22 people died after heavy snow trapped them in their vehicles as tens of thousands of visitors were visiting Pakistan’s hill town of Murree.

Videos are posted on social media in which people can be seen dead in stranded cars covered with the snow.

In the last few days, over 100,000 cars entered Murree, a hill station 24 miles away from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, to enjoy the snowfall.

In the last 24 hours, there has been heavy snowfall, and all routes connecting to the hilltown were closed due to heavy traffic, leaving thousands of cars stranded.

The interior minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said administrations are trying to rescue the stranded people, and five platoons of the Pakistan Army had been called on to assist with the tragedy.

The prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, wrote on Twitter: “Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.”

Khan’s comments have been criticized as insensitive and failures of administration.