As many as 150 tourists who had been left stranded on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad due to the cloudburst were rescued and sent back to their native areas. Pakistan Army, police personnel, Rescue 1122 teams and local volunteers jointly rescued the tourists.  The tourists appreciated the timely action, which saved their lives. The tourists were trapped following heavy rain in the AJK capital and its suburbs, which led to the closure of a five-kilometer stretch of the road.

On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) DG Sardar Waheed Khan monitored the operation. Speaking to the media, Waheed said that at 10:00 PM, the SDMA control room was informed about the incident, and that later the army, police, volunteers and Rescue 1122 personnel covered 18 to 19 kilometers on foot and in vehicles to reach the spot where the tourists were stranded. 

“By 3:00 AM in morning, they were sent back to their native areas.” AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq himself monitored the operation. He praised the SDMA for the timely action and ordered the opening of the road. Meanwhile, it has been raining cats and dogs in Muzzafarabad and its outskirts due to which there are reports of water entering people’s homes at some places.

Six wounded due to roof collapse in Rawalpindi As many as six people were injured after the roof of a house in New Sarafa Bazaar of Rawalpindi caved in.  Those injured were three men and three women. Four of the injured were provided medical treatment on the spot, while two others were shifted to a hospital.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)