A number of tourists took to Murree to enjoy the first snowfall of the season as many areas of the country received snowfall on Thursday bringing more chill to the already cold weather.

According to the reports, due to heavy snowfall, several tourists and locals are trapped in vehicles on road from Abbottabad to Murree in Kandla.

Keeping in view last year’s tragedy when 22 people had frozen to death after being stuck in a snowstorm, the authorities have limited the car numbers to be allowed to enter the hill station while the whole area would be monitored through CCTV cameras.

The major reason for the last year’s tragedy was the negligence of local authorities as they allowed over 13,000 vehicles into Murree, which had a capacity of 4,000.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Naveed Ahmed Shirazi said that only 8,000 vehicles would be allowed to enter Murree.

As many 13 relief centres have been established in Muree and entry of all vehicles on Mall Road has been banned. Citizens have been urged to call 1129 in case of an emergency.

Meanwhile, police said that at least 20 vehicles of tourists are stuck in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Pirchanasi as snowfall continued on Thursday.

The police said that rescue 1122 and police have been dispatched from Muzaffarabad to evacuate the stranded tourists.

They said that there was no machinery available in Pirchinassi to remove the snow. However, they added, the passengers would be shifted to a safe place using other vehicles.

Meanwhile, tourists along with families mostly arrived from different districts of Central Punjab and northern Khyber Pakthunkhwa were being seen in sizable number in Upper Swat’s valleys of Kalam, Madain, Bahrain and Malam Jabba amid light to moderate rains and snowfall that turned weather extremely cold.

Besides Kalam and Malam Jabba, the snowy mountains peaks of Gabin Jabba, Miandam, Matiltan, Kalam, Utror, Gabral, Matiltan, Mahodand, Loye Sar resorts have drawn influx of snowfall lovers along with families and children amid great fun and laughter.

With inputs from APP