Murree braces for season's first snowfall

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a snow security alert in Murree and Galyat on Sunday (today). The forecast came after a long drought.

All Sahulat centres have become operational and the first mock rehearsal has also been completed. The Met Office has also forecast the first rains of winter in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and Rawalpindi Division and the beginning of freezing cold on Saturday.

With the forecast of the first snowfall and rain in Murree and Galyat, the implementation of the snowfall security plan has also been launched in Murree. Civil Defence volunteers have taken control of Murree routes and activated 19 facility and information centres in Murree besides conducting a full dress mock rehearsal of rescuing the tourists who were trapped in snowfall at different places in Murree. Senior instructors Sadaf Zahoor and Nasir Kayani supervised the rescue mock exercise.

A contingent of 40 uniformed Civil Defence volunteers and Sahulat guides have also reached Murree to assist the tourists. On the demand of Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi, 60 more civil defence volunteers will join duties in Murree by December 15. Apart from 19 convenience centres, these volunteers will be deployed at all markets, tourist spots, GPO Chowk, Kashmir Point and Pindi Point in Murree.

The Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali also visited Murree to review the security arrangements and handed over three truck-loads of security equipment including search rescue jackets, rain and snow protection tents, a heavy consignment of tyre snow chains and machinery, to the Murree DC. He also delivered a consignment of saws.

Ali also visited the office of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Murree and took a briefing on the safety measures regarding snowfall. He said that the heavy consignment of salt and five snow-cleaning vehicles have been provided by the government to melt the snow immediately. "Each vehicle is provided with three drivers who will work in three shifts. As soon as the snow falls on the roads, the vehicles will start cleaning them and this operation will continue for 24 hours."

Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Aamir Rafique has also directed the traffic police to immediately send an additional force of traffic wardens to Murree. Policemen, who belong to Murree but are posted in the Rawalpindi Division, have also been offered to come for voluntary duties in Murree police stations.

According to Murree DC Shirazi, the Murree snow season will last till March 15. Foolproof arrangements have been made to prevent snow damage and ensure the safety of all visiting tourists. Actions have been taken according to the guidelines given by the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench.

He says as the Met Office has predicted rain and snow on Sunday and Monday, the arrangements have been completed. The tourist' monitoring will be done this year from GT Road Toll Plaza and Motorway Toll Plaza.