Murree gears up for winter tourism

Introduces strict parking bans, snow-clearing vehicles, facilitation centres & real-time monitoring

RAWALPINDI:

The snowfall season in Murree will run from December 15 to February 25, and a new 'snow plan' has been enforced.

On January 7, 2022, 23 tourists died of suffocation inside their vehicles due to heavy snowfall. Among them were eight members of the same family.

It was the largest snowfall disaster in 30 years, during which tourists suffered due to the lack of adequate rescue facilities. The deaths occurred due to carbon monoxide poisoning when snow blocked the vehicles' exhaust pipes. Keeping this tragedy in view, a transparent new snow plan has been prepared.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and the Regional Police Officer will directly monitor the situation. This year, additional snow-clearing vehicles and large quantities of salt and chemicals for melting snow have been sent to Murree.

A snow safety advisory has also been issued for tourists.

Nineteen facilitation centres will become operational from December 15.

The total number of snow-clearing vehicles has increased to 20, which will operate 24 hours in three shifts, each vehicle staffed with two workers per shift.

Parking has been banned on all roads leading to Murree, as well as on the Mall Road and inside local bazaars. Vehicles parked illegally will be sealed. Cars will only be allowed in designated commercial parking areas.

A military contingent will remain fully alert during the season. NDMA, police and Rescue 1122 personnel will be deployed. Additional police, traffic wardens and Civil Defence staff will also be stationed in Murree. All hotels will maintain uniform heater rental rates.

The district administration will monitor hotel and motel room rents daily. Food prices must be prominently displayed at hotels and roadside eateries.

Official rates will also be fixed for horse riding, chairlifts and other recreational activities, and cases will be registered for overcharging. To protect tourist families and prevent disputes, police and a baton-carrying Civil Defence uniformed force—comprising local youth—will be deployed.

They will also be provided special electric shock batons to separate quarrelling individuals.

Vehicle entry from the motorway and GT Road will be monitored. The number of vehicles entering from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir will also be counted. Once the specified limit is reached, entry routes to Murree will be closed from the motorway and GT Road.

Murree residents with local ID cards will be allowed entry at all times.

The deputy commissioner has advised all tourists to carry drinking water, bottled juices, dried fruits, milk and metal snow chains for their vehicles. Families have been instructed to bring warm clothing and a blanket.

The use of gas heaters inside vehicles on Murree routes should be avoided or kept minimal.