Snowy respite ignites traffic woes

Popular hill resort receives 8.5 inches of snow, drawing tourists in droves

RAWALPINDI:

Although this season’s first snowfall ended the prolonged dry spell in Murree, it also brought about significant disruptions to the traffic system on the highways between Wednesday and Thursday night, prompting authorities to scramble to avoid any untoward situation. The popular hill resort received around 8.5 inches of snow over a short period, drawing a significant number of tourists.

According to sources, the district administration, law enforcement, and relief agencies collaborated to manage the situation and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. All tourist entry points, including Satra Meel in the federal capital, were closed overnight, impacting thousands of vehicles.

The Meteorological Department forecasted intermittent rain and snowfall until February 4. Approximately 4,000 vehicles entered and 1,800 exited Murree during the snowfall, causing congestion and stranding vehicles on the roadways from 8pm to 12:30am on Wednesday. The district administration, city traffic police, and Rescue 1122 Murree jointly worked to clear the expressway, successfully restoring traffic after 1am.

Following the snowfall, the picturesque landscape of Murree, adorned with a thick layer of snow on roads and trees, provided a visual treat for tourists. The local administration and municipal bodies promptly initiated road-clearing operations after the snowfall ceased. However, dissatisfaction was expressed by Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi when he visited the express highway, pointing out the National Highway Authority's alleged delay in utilising suitable equipment for snow clearance.

To manage the influx of visitors and ensure safety, entrance to Murree was restricted for travellers, except for its residents who were allowed after verifying their identity cards. A considerable volume of traffic entered and left Murree during the 24 hours, contributing to the challenges faced by the city's traffic police and administration. An advisory issued by the City Traffic Police and the Murree DC urged visitors to check weather forecasts and adhere to guidelines provided by the district administration.

Amidst these challenges, visitors also raised concerns about fleecing in the name of parking. A visitor from Multan reported paying Rs1,800 for covered parking, only to find his vehicle stranded in the open snow upon return. The tourism department registered the complaint and pledged to take appropriate action against those responsible, highlighting ongoing issues faced by tourists in the region.

More snow expected

The Meteorological Department has forecasted additional rains and snowfall in various hilly regions, including Murree, Galiyat, Naran, and Kaghan, over the next 24 hours.

This weather update comes with a cautionary advisory for tourists and relevant departments to remain vigilant.

On Wednesday, the upper regions of Punjab, KP, and Gilgit Baltistan experienced continuous rain and snowfall. The forecast until February 4 predicts moderate to heavy rain and snowfall, raising concerns about potential landslides and road closures in Murree, Galiyat, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astor, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Havelian.

Tourists have been urged to exercise caution during this period.

Wednesday night saw cloudy conditions with gusty winds, thundershowers, and rain and snowfall on mountains in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, and the Potohar region. Heavy rain and snowfall are anticipated in certain locations in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat, and Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the possibility of hailstorms in some places. Cold weather persisted in other parts of the country, with fog reported in specific areas of southwestern Punjab and upper Sindh. Islamabad and its surroundings are expected to be partly cloudy with strong winds and thundershowers.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Bunir, Malakand, Abbottabad, Balakot, Mansehra, Haripur, Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, and Nowshera, may experience strong winds, thundershowers, and mountain snowfall. Most districts in the Punjab province will encounter cold weather, with the upper districts expecting partly cloudy conditions. Rainfall accompanied by strong winds and thundershowers is predicted for Attock, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujarat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang, and Faisalabad. Additionally, fog is a potential concern in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Multan, Khanpur, Rahimyar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and nearby areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2024.