RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police have issued a driving advisory for tourists visiting Murree, especially during rain.

Tourists have been advised to take with them extra food and drink and warm clothing in consideration of the severity of the weather. The tourists were advised not to close their car windows while using heater and to refrain from snapping pictures on roads.

In January this year, 22 people died after heavy snow trapped them in their vehicles in Murree while hundreds of vehicles remained stranded in the hilly town.

A spokesman for the traffic police said under the advisory regarding driving to Murree Hills during rain tourists should use mechanically sound and fit vehicles.

“Keep the wipers and lights of your vehicle in perfect condition. Avoid speeding during rain due to slippery roads and dangerous turns. For safe travel while driving, do not violate one way and avoid wrong overtaking.”

The spokesman said tourists must keep warm clothes and additional food and drink items with them in consideration of the severity of the weather and also should not completely close windows of their vehicles while using the heater.

Meanwhile, asevere disruption to traffic from Faizabad to Committee Chowk was witnessed on Monday.

Despite claims by the traffic police regarding launching of a crackdown on encroachers, they have been unable to clear roads from outside Benazir Bhutto Hospital and along Murree Road.

“The traffic police officials seem to be reluctant in keeping the main roads clear from encroachments which cause immense problems to commuters,” said a commuter.

On the other hand, the traffic police claimed that its officials were engaged in ensuring uninterrupted flow of traffic in the city during rains.

Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Naveed Irshad inspected the main highways to assess the flow of traffic during rains and congratulated the officials for the excellent flow of traffic. “The CTO may have not visited Murree Road or he must have visited with full protocol,” said a citizen.

The spokesman said the CTO issued instructions to all circle and sector in-charges to inform the relevant authorities in case of standing water anywhere so that the flow of traffic was not disrupted.

All the sector in-charges and duty officers should ensure the provision of raincoats and umbrellas to the wardens and perform their duties with hard work, dedication and in coordination with the concerned departments such as Wasa, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2022