Maj Gen Wajid says rescue ops to continue till tourists reach safe place
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army has launched its rescue operation in the Murree division and started to evacuate tourists who are trapped on the snow-packed roads of the tourist spot, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to the ISPR, the army personnel in support of the civil administration are involved in evacuating trapped tourists in Murree Division and Pakistan Army’s engineers have also arrived to clear the main roads.
“Those trapped in the snow are being provided with food and other necessary items,” the military’s media wing said and added that some people have also been shifted to safe locations.
Moreover, the ISPR shared that a control division has been established at Murree Division besides four camps being established at Military college Murre, Jhika Gali, APS Kuldana, Station supply Depot Sunny Bank for facilitating the relief activities. “All camps have been provided with heating arrangements,” it said. Meanwhile, the army teams clearing the roads have opened Murree Expressway, beginning a smooth flow of traffic from the main highway connecting the hill station.
Following the tragedy in Murree, the commanding officer of Murree Division Major General Wajid Aziz has said that rescue and relief operations will continue till the last tourist is not taken to a safe place. Talking to media, Major General Wajid Aziz said that the Pakistan army’s relief and rescue operation had started from the night and military police personnel were watching the traffic along with the civil administration. “The COAS directed us to cooperate fully without waiting for instructions,” he said.
He said that they were trying to provide relief to all the people so that no tourists would have to face any trouble, adding that two camps of Pakistan Army had been set up and the second camp has been set up at Sunny Bank, while around 60 families were housed at the Army School of Logistics. He said that 50 families were housed in the camp set up at Sunny Bank.