At least 21 people died last night near the Pakistani mountain village of Murree after their car got stuck in the snow. More than a meter of snow fell in a short time and the temperature dropped to eight degrees below zero.
The heavy snowfall blocked all roads to the village. Many road users got stuck. A large proportion of the dead, according to AP News definitely died of hypothermia.
The dead include a local police officer and eight members of his family. Local media say nine children were killed. Tourists are also among the dead. The mountain village at 2300 meters is often visited by day trippers from nearby Islamabad.
Food and Blankets
Residents of Murree have distributed food and blankets to stranded tourists. The roads to the village are all closed, including for pedestrians. Only vehicles with assistive devices are still allowed.
Stranded people are helped out of the snow:
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