Administration Responsible For Murree Tragedy: Inquiry Report

Web Desk — The 5-member probe committee formed to ascertain the causes and lapses that led to the Murree tragedy has completed its report which will be submitted to the chief minister today.

The Murree committee has recommended sealing of all illegal hotels, plazas, and construction sites at the hill station, besides sealing those hotels, shopping malls and apartments where no parking space is available.

The committee members visited different areas of Murree and also interviewed the tourists and officers of the Murree administration.

According to report, as sources say, the Murree incident occured due to criminal negligence of the local administration that blatantly neglected the clear warning from the metrological department. 20 snow-removing vehicles were parked at once place while their drivers and other staff was absent.

The employees of the Forest and Wildlife Department failed to provide satisfactory responses to the committee’s questions.

According to sources, the committee has recommended a grand operation in Murree to remove illegal constrution and encroachments on the Murree Expressway and adjoining highways as these encroachments were a major abstacle for the traffic flow.

On January 8, 23 people had died due to carbon monoxide poisoning while stuck in their cars as thousands of tourist vehicles ended up being stranded in Murree due to heavy snowfall.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had reprimanded the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and said it was responsible for the Murree tragedy.