RAWALPINDI: All communication arteries leading to and from Murree have been cleared for all types of move, said Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
According to a news release regarding latest Murree situation, the media wing of Pakistan Armed Forces said that Kuldana-Barian Road has also been cleared.
After clearance of main roads, army engineers are now focusing road links, it said.
The ISPR said that relief camps/medical facilitates are fully operating and army transport is plying for moving of stranded tourists to Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
Earlier after two freezing and terrifying nights, the sun is finally out in Murree on Sunday. The people of the hill station woke up to a clear sky and soaked some healing sunshine.
The rescue operation, which was suspended earlier after night fell. Officials have confirmed that 22 people stuck in cars froze to death during the blizzard on January 7.
The deceased include mothers, young children, and friends, who were visiting Murree from areas such as Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Karachi. The bodies are being sent back home.
Entry into the hill station is still banned. Only emergency and rescue vehicles have been allowed. 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 extreme weather conditions.
Nearly 371 tourists stranded in cars were rescued and moved to camps and rest houses. They are being provided food, blankets, warm clothes, and other necessities.
According to the NDMA chairperson, 600 to 700 vehicles have been evacuated. The ones on the sides of the roads are empty.
The Met Office had, earlier, 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.
Murree was crowded this week after tourists headed there to witness an unusual snowfall. Last night, the government imposed a ban on the entry of tourists in the hill station and the Galiyat region. They were not allowed to go beyond Satra Meel Toll Plaza, except in the case of extreme emergency.
Tourists tried to reach Murree by two roads leading from Rawalpindi — the old Rawalpindi-Murree Road and the Murree Expressway — and one from Abbottabad.
According to reports, this week, nearly 140,000 vehicles entered Murree. Hundreds of tourists spent Friday night on the roads.
The snowstorm was so severe that the government on Saturday sought “undeclared” help from the military and civil-armed forces to evacuate the tourists from the area as well. Consequently, Murree was declared calamity hit. (With input from INP)
