Body finalises probe into Murree tragedy

Likely to submit report to Punjab CM today

RAWALPINDI:

 

The committee formed to probe the Murree tragedy has entered into its penultimate stage as the hill station continues to recuperate from the trauma amid a complete halt of its usual hustle and bustle and hushed din.

In the final phase of the inquiry, the survivors of the tragedy were thoroughly interviewed who, according to sources, described the January 7 night as a nightmare and pointed out failures of the relief operations and administration. A report will be submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tomorrow by Sunday (today). The action will be taken in light of the findings of the probe team.

The four-member committee has so far quizzed and collected records from different departments, including the district administration, police and Rescue 1122. Sources said the team will run a comparative evaluation of the statements given by the survivors and administrative officers before drafting its findings.

The members of the investigation have also visited the Barian Road – the spot where the 23 tourists remained stranded before dying – and examined the facts, and have taken into account several factors, including the Met Office advisory that was not adhered to. The metrological department in its advisory, issued on January 6, had deemed the weather unsafe with clear forewarnings about an imminent snowstorm, directing the concerned departments to block the roads leading to the tourist spot.

On Friday, the preliminary findings of the probe revealed that 20  out of 29 snow-removing machinery and snowmobiles had failed to respond promptly to the Murree incident that claimed 22 lives.
The team also recorded the statements of the front-line personnel of Rescue 1122, who were supposed to be deployed at the site to deal with a crisis situation. The probe revealed that drivers and other staff were also found to be absent from their duty despite several warnings issued by the Met Office about a severe snowstorm through print and electronic media.
 

Conditional permission to enter Murree

Meanwhile, according to a notification issued by the District Disaster Management Authority, up to 8,000 vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree from all entry points for a limited time and under normal weather conditions. It said no entry will be allowed between 5pm and 5am except for emergency services and vehicles carrying food items and fuel.

However, the restrictions will not be applicable to the residents of Murree, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and officials including Pakistan Army vehicles. The chief traffic police officer of Rawalpindi will also devise a system to ensure that the traffic does not exceed the prescribed limit and provide timely information about the number of vehicles to the authorities concerned.

“XEN Mechanical Machinery and Chief Traffic Police Office shall have effective coordination with Pakistan Meteorological Department to set up, maintain, review and upgrade mechanism for early warning to regulate traffic,” read the notification. It further said that the police personnel will be deployed for an accurate count of incoming/outgoing vehicles and maintain a database of the net traffic count.
In addition, the administration has devised a fresh contingency plan ahead of the upcoming rain and snow that has been forecast in hilly areas from Tuesday, Jan 18, and Thursday, Jan 20.

The Met Office has asked all departments concerned to make appropriate arrangements beforehand.

 

Tourism hammered

The tourism in the otherwise popular hill station has come to a complete halt after the calamity shocked the town, with many locals bearing the brunt of financial strain as one of the aftermaths of the tragedy.
The shutting down of the guest houses and hotels has hit the low-income staff and the daily-wage labourers rather harder, leading to the loss of many jobs.

Traders, labourers, transporters and others have pressed the district administration to open up roads and allow business activity to resume. Farasat Abbasi, a concerned local, told The Express Tribune that he used to earn Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 a day to support his children and make his ends meet. “But now that tourists are banned, I have not earned a single penny in the last 10 days.” The government should restore the arrival of tourists in Murree under some rules as the people depend on tourism for their livelihood, he added.

Last week, the nation was left stunned when the news of 23 deaths owing to a deadly blizzard in Murree hit the mainstream and social media. The deaths of the tourists, including women and children who had flocked to the scenic spot to witness the snowfall, were nothing short of the tragedy. The visitors 'froze to death' in their vehicles, amidst tonnes of snow in the surroundings as a snowstorm gripped the valley.