Lahore    -   The Punjab Police’s rescue and relief operation is currently underway in Murree, according to a police’s spokesperson.

He said that hundreds of citizens had been provided timely assistance since Saturday night.

The spokesperson said that all major roads of Murree had been cleared for traffic. “About 600-700 vehicles have been evacuated from Murree since Saturday night,” he said, adding that Rawalpindi police, the district administration and Pakistan Army personnel were still active in the field.

The spokesman said that due to heavy snowfall on the major highways of Murree, 20 to 25 large trees fell and blocked the roads. 

“However, all tourists were rescued before night and taken to safe places,” he maintained.

He added that more than 500 families were rescued and brought to safe places since Saturday night.

“RPO Rawalpindi, CPO Rawalpindi, CTO Murree and DSP Murree are still busy in the operation,” the spokesman said, adding that the Lower Topa Express Highway from Jhika Gali, Lawrence College from Jhika Gali is perfectly clear for traffic. “Likewise, RMK Road from Gulandna had been also cleared during Saturday night. Traffic coming from KP to Murree has been closed,” he stated.

“More than 100 officers and officials of Rawalpindi Police and Traffic Police are taking part in the rescue operation, whereas, police personnel have been deployed on roads from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Murree and roads shall also remain closed on Monday,” he informed. “Additional personnel and heavy machinery have been rushed to Murree on an emergency basis while the staff of public and private hospitals in Murree is also on high alert to deal with any emergency,” he averred.

‘Coordinated efforts made to reduce severity of situation in Murree’

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab for Information, and Spokesperson for Government of the Punjab, Hasaan Khawar in his statement regarding the Murree rescue operation said that during the severe weather conditions state departments including Rescue 1122, police, local administration, PDMA, National Highway Authority and the Army made coordinated efforts to reduce the severity of the situation.

He said that in light of the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, investigations would be completed in all aspects and the government would devise a better system by identifying the existing systemic flaws from Murree tragedy. He further said that the government was very grateful to the locals for taking care of the people trapped in the snowfall and for supporting the administration in their evacuation operation. 

He further said that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had approved administrative measures to facilitate tourists and avoid such an unfortunate situation in future.

 “These measures include construction of link roads, appointment of senior administrative officers, prevention of illegal constructions and encroachments, construction of parking plazas and establishment of new police stations,” he added.