Islamabad

Pakistani authorities imposed a temporary ban on the entry of tourists in Shogran, Naran, and Kaghan after the Murree snowfall tragedy which killed at least 23 people on Saturday, reported local media.

Samaa TV cited a notification from the office of the Deputy Commissioner Mansehra saying that Tehsil Balakot, Naran, Kaghan and Shogran have been closed for all kinds of traffic due to the extreme weather conditions.

It said that the movement from Balakot upward would be "injurious" for people. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast heavy snowfall in the region.

Deputy Commissioner Qasim Khan said that more than 2.5 feet of snowfall have been recorded in Shogran so far.

The decision by the authorities came after 23 people were killed in Murree due to heavy snowfall. Pakistan's Punjab government had to call Army for the rescue and evacuation operations.

More than a thousand tourists have been evacuated from the affected areas. The opposition parties in Pakistan have criticised the government for its unpreparedness and the alleged negligence of effective measures to counter the disaster.