#BoycottMurree trends as people call out hotels overcharging stranded tourists

Hoteliers charged up to PKR 40,000 to tourists caught in the snowstorm which led to the death of 23 people

Following the tragic deaths of 23 people stranded in their vehicles during a snowstorm in Murree on Friday night, a hashtag has surfaced on Twitter calling for the boycott of the popular tourist destination after reports surfaced of hotels charging up to PKR 40,000 to stranded families. 

Testimonial: Tourist in Murree complaining about hotels charging in excess of Rs 40,000 despite road closure.

He added that facilities weren’t provided despite such high price and hotel owners were forcing them to check out #Murree #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/VQOWugxATi

— Discover Pakistan 🇵🇰 | پاکستان (@PakistanNature) January 8, 2022

Model and actor Hasnain Lehri took to Twitter to share that he will be joining the boycott in protest of unethical practices by the "hotel mafia". 

Me as a patriotic Pakistani is going to#boycottmurree until there is legal
action against the Hotel mafia's pic.twitter.com/hYUrxEezYf

— Hasnain Lehri (@hasnainlehri) January 11, 2022

He added that he will not be doing any shoots in Murree.

As an artist who has been working to create visuals for as long as i can remember, I have made a decision along with my team members to not do any shoots or any projects in muree , ………#BoycottMurree pic.twitter.com/TzduGPPvwb

— Hasnain Lehri (@hasnainlehri) January 11, 2022

Several Twitter users joined in as well. 

#بائیکاٹ_مری
A 3,000 room in Murree sold for 40,000. The heater was given Rs.1000 per hour and the chain was put on Rs.5000. The locals of Murree looted the people trapped in the snow in the same way as booty is looted on the battlefield#mureeincident #Murree #boycottmurree pic.twitter.com/3yh12oSrkA

— Ch Kamran Chadhar (@ChKamranJalal1) January 11, 2022

#boycottmurree should be the trend for rest of the winter. Also other northern tourism stations such need to learn from this incedent that one should not loose his dignity for a few thousands the way murree people did. Humanity must always come first!#سانحہ_مری

— Sheher Bano (@bittteraf) January 9, 2022

Hotel Owners & common People's Looting Our Public charging 60k for a single Night , Common People's Demanding 5k for chains or any Food item ⚠️

We should Boycott Murree ,Share as you can ,Even Minister's Can't do any thing against them , Pathetic 🤬#boycottmurree pic.twitter.com/3vbWReTHg2

— Noor Mujtaba Memon (@NoorMujtabaMem8) January 9, 2022

A user, recounting a similar experience, shared that this is a common practice by hoteliers in times of increased demand, such as in the case of stranded tourists.

Once i was also struck with family in similar situation we were coming back from Kashmir and it was night ,they started 3 times charging the rate of room.
We came to Isb and stayed there,we never went again Muree these "Khinzeer "misbehaves and Over charge ,even face washing. pic.twitter.com/se0JwOPUNw

— Muhammad Kamran (@WordsOfKamran) January 9, 2022

If the Public Boycotts Murree for one season only & until the Hotel & Restaurant owners agree to a Price List along with a receipt system with the officials of Murree Administration, there is no other way to control this INHUMAN MAFIA. #BoycottMurree

— Khurram Nawaz Gandapur (@GandapurPAT) January 10, 2022

A preliminary investigation report into the Murree tragedy has revealed that the roads in and around the hill station had not been repaired for the last two years that caused the snow accumulated in the crevices to harden causing the traffic jam.

The report, submitted to the Punjab government on Sunday, further disclosed that a slippery spot outside a private cafe in Murree led to the main exit from the hill station. However, there was no government machinery to remove the snow that could have allowed the tourists to escape.

It was also revealed that because of power outages in different parts of Murree, tourists preferred to leave their hotels and stay in vehicles.