MURREE: The #Boycott Murree continues as top trend on twitter as social media users across different platforms continue to lambast the hoteliers of the hilly resort who tried to fleece the trapped tourists by demanding high fares during last Friday’s fierce blizzard in which 23 people froze to death.
Social media platforms and the twitterati were of the view that the hotel owners showed an extreme apathy by capitalizing on people’s miseries as they raised rates of hotel rooms up to Rs50,000 for one night.
The prices of other eatable items were also jumped exorbitantly as an egg was being sold for Rs500. Even locals charged money for pushing the trapped vehicles of the helpless tourists. They charged Rs1,500 for small cars and Rs3,000 for big cars.
According to netizens, not only the city administration but the hoteliers too showed an ugly face. A deluge of angry posts and videos could be seen on the social media platform.
A tourist said that a hotel room that was usually cost Rs3,000 was available for Rs40,000. The hotel owners charged Rs1,000 for turning on heater for just an hour.
The businessmen of the area said that due to such negative campaign, their businesses which mainly rely on tourism would suffer. A similar campaign was lost few years back, when videos were tourists getting thrashed by the locals went viral on social media.
Meanwhile days after nightmare that claimed precious lives, life in hill resort struggled to become normal as electricity, water and telecommunication links were out of service in many areas.
Electricity and water supply are still suspended at Murree and surrounding areas, while mobile services are still affected, while as several people remain stranded, Media reported on Monday.
A team of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) worked to restore electricity in Murree, but they could not complete the job till Monday due to extreme weather conditions, officials said.
Meanwhile, a committee to probe the Murree tragedy was formed on Sunday, with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar vowing “impartial action” against all those found negligent in their duties.
The committee has been tasked to ascertain which government departments were responsible for the crisis situation that unfolded in Murree.
It will also assess what measures were taken to control the influx of visitors and vehicles.
Furthermore, the committee will look into what precautionary measures were taken by institutions in light of the weather advisory issued by the Met Office. It will determine whether a warning was run on media to dissuade people from travelling to the tourist destination.
The committee will probe what traffic control measures were taken amid the snowstorm and after reports of the adverse weather conditions were received, what safety measures were implemented.
The report as a result of the findings obtained will be submitted to the provincial government in seven days.
A day earlier, an initial report was presented to the chief minister. It said that on January 7, four feet of snow fell in Murree.
According to the report, between January 3 and 7, 162,000 vehicles entered the city.
The report said that the 22 people who died on January 7 died due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Trees fell at 16 different points, blocking off the roads for traffic, said the report.
Read more: All roads in Murree cleared, tourists return after nightmare
