This is honestly everyone’s worst nightmare.
Many people in Pakistan love to escape the pressures and anxieties of their daily routines by heading for an escape to the Northern areas of our country.
Places like Murree, Swat, Hunza and Nathia Gali are just some of the places we all love to head off to for a quick getaway. Unfortunately for these people, it wasn’t as quick as they thought.
Due to heavy snowfall, tourists were been found stuck in the Toheed Abad area, completely stranded.
پاک فوج وفضائیہ نے نتھیا گلی میں پھنسنے والے سیاحوں کوریسکیوکرلیا#Nathiagali https://t.co/i6AaC4BkNp pic.twitter.com/GHl5fP8w3a
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) January 22, 2019
With cars containing families and children from all over Pakistan, these tourists were on their way to Nathia Gali when their vehicles got completely stuck in thick snow as temperatures were dropping below freezing. According to news reports, this was one of the heaviest snowfalls of the winter season. Like we said, everyone’s worst nightmare when heading to the North in the cold.
Omar Ahsan, the man from Karachi who created the video in the first place, was pleading with people watching to somehow send a rescue team or mission as it didn’t seem like the situation was going to get any better. They needed help and luckily,
Help arrived.
Major General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, caught wind of the conversation.
On media reports of stranded tourists at Toheed Abad near Nathia Gali a rescue team each of Army and PAF sent in support of civil administration. Rescue teams carrying medicines and food items. Road blocked due to heavy snowfall and broken down vehicles. Approach being cleared.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) January 21, 2019
Following the video request of one of the stranded tourists, immediately tweeted out that rescue teams were being dispatched to those who were in need.
According to the General, these rescue efforts were sent out at midnight with food items and any medicine that may be needed to treat the tourists.
Luckily, it wasn’t long before the rescue team reached the civilians and took them to safer spots in Kala Bagh and Murree.
Reccue operation by #PakArmy for tourists which have been stuck in my home town #Toheedabad #DgIspr #Tweet . Well done #PakArmy #PakistanZindabad #Nathiagali pic.twitter.com/ShV01EWjvc
— H@ks (@haks_08) January 22, 2019
This situation could not have had happened at a worse time as this snowfall was the heaviest one of the season so far.
Heavens have opened! Heavy snowfall continue today! Situation today at 8:25 am. Here in my village. Nathia gali @Neena_Alli @faiqa_ayaz pic.twitter.com/LQ9xiIJ8VX
— Sardar Waqas Pervez (@EWahina) January 22, 2019
Pic-1 (taken by me): When I visited Nathia Gali Bazaar three weeks ago.
Pic-2 (via FB): Nathia Gali Bazaar at the moment. #Nathiagali pic.twitter.com/TmBo9ovow0
— azhar khan (@azharkhn4) January 22, 2019
Rescue teams from the #PakistanArmy and the #PakistanAirForce(#PAF), along with members of the civil administration, rescued tourists trapped in #NathiaGali’s Tauheedabad area after heavy #snowfall blocked access routes. #Murree ❄️ ⛄️ ❤️ #PakArmy 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/Hzx74kIjpj
— Islamabad 🇵🇰 (@Islaamabad) January 22, 2019
Though it may look beautiful, this kind of snow can be very dangerous especially in terms of driving conditions for cars going in and out of the area.
However, Pakistanis are extremely happy with the Armed Forces and their quick action.
Love You Pak Army ❤❤❤#Nathiagali
— Jawad🇵🇰 (@MuhamadJawadAli) January 22, 2019
As always THANK YOU PAKISTAN ARMY #Nathiagali
— Fahad Ashraf (@giant_wanderer) January 22, 2019
Again our Army in action! Our political system failure allows our troops to intervene! #Nathiagali
— Alee! (@MalixeLi) January 22, 2019
All we can say is that those tourists were extremely lucky. In a country full of delays upon delays in almost every significant decision, this was quick thinking that actually worked.
Have you been following the story? What did you think of the rescue mission? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cover photo source: Shaheryar Hassan Via Facebook/@Azharkhn4 Via Twitter