LAHORE   -  A five-member probe committee formed by the Punjab government to investigate deaths of several tourists during Murree snowstorm on Sunday revealed that the incident took place purely due to the administrative negligence.

According to official sources, after completing its investigation, which was based on interviews of victims and administrative officials , the probe committee departed from the hill station towards Lahore.

The inquiry committee is expected to present its report to Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday. The probe committee prepared its report after recording the statements of victims and more than 30 officers from different administrative departments in Murree.

The probe has also revealed that on the day of the incident, several snowploughs were parked at the same place which led to road blockages, the administrative staff was absent from duty, while a blizzard warning from the metrological department was blatantly neglected, according to sources.

At least 23 tourists died due to carbon monoxide poisoning or they were frozen to death amid snowstorm. The victims got stuck in their cars as thousands of tourist vehicles ended up being stranded in Murree due to heavy snowfall.