IHC holds NDMA responsible for Murree tragedy

Petitioner apprises CJ tourists were not informed about hazard beforehand

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Thursday held the “state responsible” for the tragedy in Murree in which at least 23 people lost their lives because of a strong blizzard that swept through the hill resort last week.

While hearing a petition filed by a Murree resident, seeking an investigation into the tragedy and action against those responsible, the chief justice wondered what the fault of the locals was, as everyone was trying to pin the blame on them.

The petitioner, Hammad Abbasi, had prayed to the court that tourists were not informed about the hazard at the toll plaza before entering the hill station, adding that they were also not stopped by the authorities concerned from proceeding further.

Turning his attention towards the members of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) who were present at the hearing, the chief justice asked who was responsible for the deaths as parliament had earlier enacted the disaster management law.

“It was supposed to be implemented since 2010. Has there ever been a meeting [on the subject] of National Disaster Management till date?” he asked. An NDMA member replied that one meeting was held on February 21, 2013, and the second meeting was held on March 28, 2018.

“Had the meetings been held regularly and adequate preparations were made, precious lives would not have been lost. It is unfortunate; you have failed. It was your responsibility to convene the meeting,” the chief justice said, expressing his displeasure at the NDMA.

“Given the management plan, you had to implement this law. If this law had been implemented, not a single citizen would have died,” he said, adding that in this case, there was no need for inquiry, as only the NDMA had to implement the law.

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Chief Justice Minallah observed that if district-wise plans existed, the tragedy would not have occurred. He also wondered what the fault of the locals in Murree was, as everyone was trying to pin the blame on them. He asked the NDMA to convene a meeting and take action against those responsible.

“The NDMA has not fulfilled its responsibility. It could not inform if a district-wise plan existed or not for the past 11 years,” he further said, adding that hotels would not have overcharged and neither would the locals been blamed if the plans were in place to deal with untoward incidents.

The NDMA member said that the law clearly stated that there was a set of responsibilities at the central, provincial and district levels. At this, the chief justice remarked that the state was responsible for the deaths that occurred.

The court also instructed the prime minister to call a meeting of the national commission and determine those responsible for the tragedy. The prime minister was also instructed to submit a report to the court after the meeting of the NDMA commission. The case was then adjourned till January 21.

Administrative flaws

On last Friday, 23 tourists stranded in their vehicles during a snowstorm in Murree died. Expressing his “shock” at tragic deaths Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered an inquiry into the incident. The initial investigation report was made public on Wednesday.

The initial findings of a five-member committee had pointed to the failure of relevant government departments in taking pre-emptive measures in light of the warnings issued by the Met Office. The probe also uncovered that the measures were not taken to regulate the influx of tourists.

The metrological department in its advisory on January 6 had deemed the weather unsafe with clear forewarnings about an imminent snowstorm, directing the departments concerned to block the roads leading to the tourist spot.

The committee discovered that the relevant departments, including district administration and disaster management authorities, did not coordinate to formulate a joint plan of action to prevent a crisis following the severe weather warnings.