LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has formed a committee to investigate the Murree incident in which at least 19 tourists had died.
According to sources, after the tragedy in Murree, the chief minister called an emergency meeting in which Punjab IG, chief secretary and senior officials of rescue departments participated.
Buzdar ordered a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee will submit its report in 72 hours.
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The probe committee will include police and administration officers whose names will be announced soon.
Earlier, at least 19 tourists had died after their vehicles stranded due to snowfall and traffic congestion.
The disaster resulted after a large number of vehicles and tourists were allowed to enter the hill station beyond its capacity by the administration.
On the other, giving statistics, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had proudly claimed yesterday that 100,000 vehicles had entered Murree and the charges of hotels and guests houses had gone high.
The federal minister had compared the large number of tourists in Murree with financial prosperity of people. However, he failed to take special measures to handle situation in the overcrowded hill station before the disaster.
The administration has declared the hill station as calamity-hit area today after the deaths of over 16 tourists due to heavy snowfall and traffic congestion.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that 1,000 vehicles had been stranded in Murree since last night. He said that 16 to 19 people had died in thier vehicles in the area.
Sheikh Rasheed said that FC and Rangers had been called in for for relief operations in the hill station. In addition, Pak Army have also been called in.
A control room has been setup to monitor the relief operation. Sources said that electricity supply is suspended in the area since last night.
