Despite warnings from authorities, visitors had flocked to see the unusual snowfall in the highly touristy town of Murree.
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At least 21 people have died after being trapped inside their vehicle overnight by snow near Murree, a mountain town in northern Pakistan, rescue services said on Saturday (January 8th).
Saturday morning, the army was trying to clear the roads and save the people still stranded. “I asked the local people to help the tourists and provide them with food and linens”, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in a video message.
Among the victims are a couple and their six children who were killed by the cold, said a spokesman for the government of the province of Punjab. It is not known if this was the cause of death of the other victims, including another family of five.
According to a spokesman for the Murree police, more than 100,000 vehicles had entered the city, located about 70 km from the capital Islamabad, over the past three days, causing huge traffic jams.
Despite the warnings, visitors had flocked to see the unusual snowfall in this small tourist town, which is very popular among residents of the capital.