Despite warnings from authorities, visitors had flocked to see the unusual snowfall.
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At least 16 people have died after being trapped inside their vehicle by snow near Murree, a mountain town in northern Pakistan, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday (January 8th).
“At least 16 to 19 people died inside their vehicle”, he said in a video message, adding that the army was trying to clear the roads and save those still stranded. “I asked the local people to help the tourists and provide them with food and linens”, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed added.
According to a Murree police spokesperson, more than 100,000 vehicles had entered the city, located about 70 kilometers from the capital Islamabad, over the past three days, causing huge traffic jams.
Despite warnings from authorities, visitors had flocked to see the unusual snowfall in this small tourist town, which is very popular among residents of the capital. According to the authorities of the province of Punjab, Murree has been declared a “disaster area” and residents are urged to stay away.