Murree braces for winter storms

District administration urges tourists to stay informed and take precautions

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday predicted snowfall and torrential rain in Murree from Monday [today], whereas cold grips northern and upper regions of the country.

“As of today, there is a 70 per cent chance of snowfall in Murree, and the weather conditions are expected to remain uncertain until February 22,” said the weather forecasting officer.

He said tourist spots in Neelum Valley have been hit by heavy snowfall and continuous rainfall, causing slippery conditions on Neelum Highway and connecting roads, disrupting traffic flow.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said administrative measures were in place in Murree to address the prevailing situation. “There is a partial cloud cover in Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the possibility of rain as well,” it said.

Weather updates

On the other hand, the district administration has urged the tourists to get weather updates and traffic-related information before travelling to Murree and also advised the tourists to take all due precautions in Murree, Galiyat and surrounding areas.

According to a spokesperson, the administration finalised all arrangements for snowfall season. The tourists were being given information about weather updates and travel advisories at all entry points of Murree, he added.

The tourists had also been requested to follow the instructions being given at the entry points, he said adding, that strict action by the law was also being taken against parking rules violators. The district administration had set up a special control room to facilitate the people, particularly tourists, he added.

The control room was working round the clock under the supervision of senior officers. In case of any difficulty, the tourists could get help and guidance from the tourist facilitation centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th 2024.