Emergency declared in Pakistan’s Murree, stranded tourists die after overnight snowfall

At least eight tourists were killed on Saturday when their vehicles were stranded after overnight snowfall in Pakistan’s popular tourist destination Muri.

The cause of his death is said to be asphyxiation as he was trapped inside his cars after being buried under a heavy blanket of snow.

The government said a state of emergency has been declared in Muri “due to the heavy snowfall and the hardships caused to the local population and tourists, causing several deaths”.

@GovtofPunjabPK emergency has been declared in #muri,

We advise citizens to discontinue their travel plans to avoid risking their lives and that of their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/nQHB3MzbwF

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) 8 January 2022

Inam Ghani, Inspector General of Pakistan’s National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP), encouraged people to travel to Murree for the time being and said all roads leading to the hill resort have been closed.

Please do not visit Muri!
It has started snowing again. NHMP officials and NHA are working to clean the Murree Expressway. Congestion at Muri and Expressway. People have taken to the streets in hotels for the night. New vehicles are not being allowed to go to Murri.

— Inam Gani QPM & Bar, PSP (@inamgani) 8 January 2022

Located about 60 km northeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, Murri attracts thousands of tourists every year during winters to experience the snowfall.