Dozens Of Tourists Die Frozen In Traffic Jams Amid Extreme Weather, Pakistan PM Orders Investigation

Illustration of traffic jam in the pouring snow in Pakistan. (Wikimedia Commons/Chauhan06)

JAKARTA - Pakistan's prime minister mourns the deaths of dozens of people in traffic jams in the freezing cold, ordering an investigation to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

At least 16 tourists died in freezing temperatures after being stranded in their vehicles in northern Pakistan, where thousands flocked to enjoy the snow, officials said Saturday.

With about 1,000 vehicles still stranded due to traffic jams, the government has declared Murree, located 64 km (40 miles) northeast of the capital Islamabad, as a disaster-hit area.

"For the first time in 15 to 20 years large numbers of tourists flocked to Murree, which created a major crisis," Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan's interior minister said in a video message.

Minister Ahmed said around 1,000 cars were stuck at the hill station, an elevated town from a nearby area, confirming that "16 to 19 deaths had occurred in their cars."

He further explained that platoons of soldiers and paramilitary troops had been deployed to assist the civilian government in rescue operations.

On Friday evening, the government announced the closure of all roads leading to the station to stop further influx of tourists.

Separately, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his shock at the "tragic deaths" of the tourists.

"Have ordered an investigation and implemented strong regulations to ensure the prevention of such a tragedy," Khan wrote in a post on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry appealed to the public not to visit hill stations.

The snowfall, which began on Tuesday night, continues at regular intervals, attracting thousands of tourists. Due to the large number of visitors, many families ended up stranded on the road.

Local media reported that more than 100,000 vehicles entered the hill station. Videos shared on social media showed the entire family, including children, lying dead in their snow-covered vehicle.

"Was the death caused by the flu or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning?" asked Dr. Faheem Yonus, head of infectious diseases at the University of Maryland UCH, in a tweet.

"CO is odorless, deadly if a dead car is buried in snow, a clogged exhaust (silencer) can quickly kill passengers when they inhale CO," he explained.

To note, officials have not provided news about the cause of death.