Pakistan: Approx 16 people died of the snowstorm trapping them in vehicles

The interior minister said Saturday that at least 16 people died after heavy snow buried them in their vehicles as tens of thousands of holidaymakers flocked to Pakistan's hill town of Murree.

"At least 16 to 19 individuals died inside their automobiles," Sheikh Rashid stated in a video message, adding that the military has been mobilised to clear roads and rescue people still stuck.

A police spokesman stated that around 100,000 automobiles had entered the beautiful town of Murree in the past few days to observe the unusually high snowfalls, generating massive traffic jams on the roads leading in and out.

Murree, located 70 kilometres (45 miles) northeast of Islamabad, has long been a popular day trip destination.

Murree has been declared a "disaster area" by the Punjab provincial chief minister's office, which has encouraged citizens to stay away.