ISLAMABAD: At least 21 people have died in freezing temperatures after being stuck in their vehicles in the Pakistani hill station of Murree, government and rescue officials said, with travelers stranded overnight on snowed-in roads in a crisis that has trapped thousands.

Tens of thousands of people arrived in Murree in the past two days to see the snow, despite appeals by authorities to postpone their plans because of bad weather and roadblocks. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and the Galiyat mountainous regions from January 6 to 9.

On Saturday, the local administration declared Murree, 64 km (40 miles) northeast of the capital Islamabad, "calamity hit,” with long lines of cars stuck in the resort town after a snowstorm made the roads impassable, stranding motorists without food and water in the freezing cold.

According to a list issued by the Rescue 1122 emergency service, 21 people had died, including nine children.

Prime minister Imran Khan expressed grief and said he had ordered an inquiry. 

“Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree.  Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.”

Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 8, 2022

Earlier in the day, the minister for interior, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said this was the first time in around 20 years that so many people had flocked to the hills.

“Between 16 and 19 people died in their vehicles,” he said in a video message. “Now we are allowing vehicles carrying blankets and food.”

The minister said the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations and police were working to rescue the stranded, and five platoons of the Pakistan army as well as the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps had also been called in to assist. 

The army announced on Saturday afternoon it has established four camps in the area and a “control division” and opened rescue centers.  

“Heavy machinery from Murree army engineers division and FWO (Frontier Works Organization) are working without any pause to assist people who are struck,” the army’s media wing said. “Troops are out in the field. Where machinery can’t reach, troops have been moved and they are clearing traffic and opening roads.”

On Friday evening, the Islamabad administration announced it was closing the roads leading to Murree for the rest of the weekend “in public interest.” 

For hours overnight and well after daybreak on Saturday, thousands of cars lined the snow-clogged roadway as their drivers grew increasingly desperate about their predicament and exasperated by what appeared to be a slow response by authorities.

Authorities in Rawalpindi, which is adjacent to Islamabad, said on Saturday over 23,000 stranded vehicles had been already evacuated from Murree. 

“Around 1000 are still stranded. The District Admin is working round the clock to evacuate remaining vehicles safely,” the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Rawalpindi said in a Twitter post on Saturday morning. 

A strong westerly wave entered Pakistan’s western and upper parts earlier this week, producing rain and snowfall. It is forecast to grip the areas until Sunday.