Around 230 tourists stranded in heavy snow rescued in AJK
At least 230 stranded tourists safely evacuated from high altitude tourist resort Pir Chinasi, Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday night after they stuck in heavy snow.
Over 30 vehicles of tourists were stuck as roads were slippery because of snowfall. Over the information rescue 1122 have left from Muzaffarabad to evacuate the tourists stranded in Pir Chinasi.
“In bad weather, vehicles in mountain terrains become inoperable near Pir Chinasi. Machinery is not available at the tourist destination, therefore the chained machinery has been dispatched,” said police.
The rescue teams managed to reach the deep snow-covered spot through their 4×4 vehicles, which are capable of moving on snowy tracks.
Following the evacuation operation, the tourists were shifted to a state-run guesthouse in Saran, five kilometers away from Pir Chinasi.
Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Masood Ur Rehman said that 30 drivers have also been provided with safe accommodation in the Saran rest house for the night so that they drive back to their stuck vehicles once the weather is predicted to be clear.
The officials claimed that heavy snowfall is causing hindrances in rescue operations, as slippery roads are making vehicles and shoes lose their grip on the surface.
