At least 21 people have died after heavy snow trapped motorists in their vehicles in northern Pakistan.

It’s understood that up to 1000 vehicles were left stranded as tourists rushed to view the winter snowfall on the hilltop of Murree. Pakistan’s military reported more than 300 people still stranded by the heavy snow.

Engineers and military troops have been deployed to start clearing the roads leading to Murree.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his shock over the deaths, noting that the snowfall and the rush of tourists without checking the weather conditions caught the district admin off guard. Khan has ordered an inquiry into the deaths and called for stronger regulations to be put in place to prevent another fatal tragedy.