Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday that the traffic was allowed on Express Highway after its clearance and evacuation of stranded tourists is underway in Murree.

Fawad Chaudhry said that the government is providing maximum assistance to the stranded people in Murree besides expressing sorrow over the loss of lives.

He said that the hilly areas have received record snowfall during the last 48 hours in the hilly areas and the local administration kept appealing to the people for one week for stopping them to tour the upper areas.

Fawad Chaudhry detailed that the local administration, rescue institutions, and military troops are present in the affected areas to evacuate the stranded tourists.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has opened all routes from Nathiagali, whereas, Punjab government also opened its guesthouses for the affected tourists.

Earlier, more than 20 tourists who were stranded in their vehicles due to heavy snowfall died of the extreme weather in Murree on Friday night.