RAWALPINDI – The scenic hill town of Murree has been plunged into crisis as historic snowstorm smashes 20-year snowfall record, turning popular tourist destination into a frozen emergency zone. In several areas, snow accumulation reached staggering five feet, paralyzing daily life and completely crippling mobility across the town.
The extreme weather trapped thousands of vehicles across the country’s most visited hill station, creating scenes of chaos and desperation. Authorities also launched a large-scale emergency rescue and evacuation operation, targeting safe removal of nearly 5,000 stranded vehicles. Police units, rescue services, and traffic authorities have been deployed across multiple hotspots, supported by heavy machinery working nonstop to clear snow-choked roads and dismantle dangerous bottlenecks.
To prevent deadly skidding accidents, salt is being spread on major routes, while road openings are being carried out in phases, strictly dependent on snowfall intensity and visibility conditions. Officials warn that every movement is being calculated due to the unpredictable and volatile environment.
With conditions rapidly deteriorating, authorities have imposed a complete ban on tourist travel to Murree, warning that congestion, icy roads, and near-zero visibility could turn any journey into a life-threatening risk. Officials have made it clear: travel to Murree is no longer just risky, it is dangerous.
Visitors already inside Murree are being facilitated for safe evacuation as routes gradually become passable. Local authorities flagged tourists and took precautionary steps reportedly helped limit the tourist influx, yet at peak times, around 10,000 visitors were still present across the Murree GPO area and surrounding localities.
The storm has not only frozen roads, it has also frozen life itself in many areas. Several peripheral localities have been without electricity since last night, plunging residents into darkness and extreme cold. Internet services have also been partially suspended, further isolating communities and worsening the crisis.
Residents report severe hardship, with movement nearly impossible and routine life completely halted. Shops, transport, and daily activities have slowed to a standstill as people struggle to cope with the harsh conditions.
Met Office said snowfall is expected to continue through the night, raising fears of even more accumulation, further road blockages, and delayed restoration of essential services.
Authorities have once again issued urgent appeals to public to avoid traveling to Murree at all costs, stressing that while rescue and clearance teams are working around the clock, conditions remain highly unpredictable and dangerous until the snow spell weakens.
More rain/snowfall predicted in Pakistan on January 25 onward
