Islamabad (Staff Report.Agencies): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday reprimanded on the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), saying the fatalities would not have occurred if the authority was “prepared and had taken prior measures”.
While hearing a petition filed by Hammad Abbasi, a Murree resident, seeking action against those responsible for the tragedy, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah ordered NDMA officials to appear before the court today and answer whether the body had a management plan in place to deal with such situations.
The hearing resumed after an NDMA representative appeared in the courtroom.
The IHC CJ called the official to the rostrum and asked him when the last meeting of the NDMC was held. At this, the official told the court that a meeting took place on February 21, 2013, and the last meeting was held on March 28, 2018.
“You are responsible for this incident. Every [official] included in the NDMA law is responsible for the death of over 20 people. The whole state is responsible for these deaths,” justice Minallah said while addressing the NDMA official.
Earlier, a preliminary investigation report revealed that the roads in and around the hill station had not been repaired for the last two years that caused the snow accumulated in the crevices to harden causing the traffic jam.
The report further says, between January 3 and 7, about 162,000 vehicles entered the city and all the deaths were due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
