Tourists advised against unnecessary travel to Murree

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi City Traffic Police (CTP) on Tuesday advised tourists not to make unnecessary trips to Murree and its adjoining areas during the recent spell of heavy snowfall since it had made the roads of the hill station slippery.

According to CTP Spokesperson Wajid Satti, tourists have been advised not to visit Murree during the current snowfall and avoid unnecessary visits to the hilly areas to avoid mishaps on the road.

The current spell of snowfall started on Sunday evening and continued on Tuesday, covering Murree and its adjoining areas in up to two feet of snow till Tuesday morning.



The Galiyat region also received more than two feet snow which caused traffic congestion on many roads.

A large number of tourists throng to Murree during a snowfall to watch as nature puts a white blanket over the hill station. Thousands of tourists throng Pindi Point, Kashmir Point, the Mall and Ayubia.

Following Sunday’s snowfall, as many as 40,000 vehicles had entered the hill station, the traffic police spokesperson after Sunday’s snowfall.

The influx meant there were long queues of traffic and with little parking space available in the hill station.

The traffic police had deployed 210 wardens on various roads in Murree to facilitate tourists, Satti added.

Moreover, the traffic police official said that tourists have been asked not to stop their vehicles just to take pictures because it would cause traffic congestion. Further, visitors were urged to run their cars on petrol or diesel instead of CNG and keep water and dry fruit in their vehicles in case of severe traffic jams.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2019.