Murree police chief issues emergency travel advisory amid landslide, storm alerts

RAWALPINDI, Apr 01 (APP):District Police Officer (DPO) Murree, Dr. Muhammad Raza Tanveer, has issued a high-level travel advisory for tourists and local residents following a severe weather warning for the next ten days by the meteorological department.

In his video message, the DPO highlighted the specific physical dangers posed by this weather system. He warned that the heavy downpours significantly increase the probability of landslides and the dangerous falling of rocks from the mountain slopes, both of which pose a lethal threat to commuters.

Furthermore, the police cheif cautioned that dense fog accompanying the storms could reduce visibility to zero, making mountain navigation nearly impossible.

“Travelers are strictly urged to check updated weather forecasts before departing and to ensure their vehicles are equipped for extreme conditions”, he said

To ensure the safety of all visitors, the district administration has put all emergency and rescue services on high alert. The DPO encouraged tourists to utilize the “Safe Tourism Murree” mobile application for real-time updates or to contact the police helpline at 15 in the event of an emergency.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the region is set to experience a period of intense atmospheric instability from April 1st through April 10th. The forecast predicts heavy torrential rains, frequent thunderstorms, and significant hailstorms, which are expected to create hazardous conditions throughout the Murree and Galyat hill tracts.

The meteorological outlook indicates that the situation will be most critical on Friday, April 3rd, and Saturday, April 4th, with an 80% chance of precipitation and temperatures dropping to a chilling C°4. While the police remain stationed to provide assistance, citizens are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel until the weather subsides.