The Pakistan Army, as is the case whenever a calamity strikes the country, on Saturday was leading the rescue operation in Murree following the death of at least 22 tourists, who were stranded in their vehicles overnight because of a snowstorm at the hill station.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that said army engineers had reached the area to help open up the main highways. "Heavy machinery from Murree, army engineers division and FWO [Frontier Works Organisation] are working without any pause to assist people who are struck," the ISPR said.
"Where machinery can’t reach, troops have been moved and they are clearing traffic and opening roads," it added. The ISPR issued another statement saying that all stranded people would be shifted to five army relief camps set up in Murree Division.
“Food, shelter will be provided to people affected by heavy snowfall. Army relief centres have been established at Army School of Technicians Barian, Military College Murree, Jhika Gali, APS Kuldana [and] Station Supply Depot Sunny Bank.”
The military’s media wing said FWO dozers and army engineers were working to keep the roads open.
“Murree Express[way] opened and cleared for any fresh snow by NHA/ FWO/ army engineers.”
All resources at the disposal of Murree Division in terms of engineering machinery have been mobilised and will remain in the field till all people are evacuated, according to the statement.
Also read: Military continues relief efforts in flood-hit Gwadar
The ISPR said special arrangements were also made to evacuate people on military transport.
It added that military engineer troops and dozers were currently working to clear snow on Jhika Gali Road, Kuldana Road and Barian. In its update issued at 11:55pm, the ISPR said over 300 snow-affected people including children had been provided with medical care by a team of army doctors and paramedics.
Besides, the military has served cooked meal to more than 1,000 stranded people in Jhika Gali, Kashmiri Bazar, Lower Topa and Kuldana. “Stranded People have been accommodated & provided shelter with hot meal and tea at Military College Murree, Supply Depot, APS and Army Logistics School Kuldana.”
The ISPR statement read that traffic was plying from Jhika Gali to (Murree) Expressway.
The road from Jhika Gali to Kuldana has been cleared, however no traffic is plying due to its slippery condition. The track from Gharial to Bhurban is open and the traffic is plying on it.
The statement added that army engineers with machinery were working continuously for road clearance from Kuldana to Barian. Maj Gen Wajid Aziz, the commanding officer (CO) in Murree Division, told the media that the military’s relief and rescue operation had started overnight.
“Military police officers were watching the traffic along with the civil administration,” he added.
The CO said army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had told him at night to fully cooperate with the civil administration without waiting for instructions. “At night, two army camps were set up -- one at the Army School of Logistics in Kaldana and the other at Sunny Bank,” he explained.
The Army School of Logistics camp housed 60 families whereas the one at Sunny Bank accommodated 50 families. “The rescue and relief operation will continue until the last tourist is safe,” the officer said.
Separately, on the instructions of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, crisis management cells were set up for relief activities in the affected areas of Kalabagh and Lower Topa bases of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
Accommodation, food, warm clothes and medical facilities are being provided to tourists stranded in heavy snowfall. During the operation, PAF personnel evacuated several families to safer places.
Helicopter operations will also be launched to evacuate stranded tourists when the weather conditions improve.
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