Aaj English TV

Thursday, April 18, 2024  
09 Shawwal 1445  

The anger on social media over Murree calamity is visible. Is the govt listening?

As the death toll from calamity-hit Murree rises, so does the temperature on Twitter as furious social media users...

As the death toll from calamity-hit Murree rises, so does the temperature on Twitter as furious social media users turn on each other in a quest to get some answers. PTI supporters blame tourists for showing up with their children when the infrastructure couldn't support it, opponents blame the PTI government for not putting up a good infrastructure and government ministers blame everyone but themselves.

But is it solely the government's fault? One user felt it was a mix of issues:

Social media users, however, were very angry at all things related to government.

In his interview to Geo, interior minister wishes he had shut roads to Murree earlier but then towards the end of the interview, seems to take a swipe at tourists themselves for showing up, wanting to take selfies with kids. This caused a lot of anger.

Geo also shared a video of Sh Rashid on site in Murree assisting with evacuations but we're choosing respones to that clip which aren't riddled with expletives and abuse.

Information minister Ch Fawad was also a target of social media users' ire and people brought up his tweet from Jan 5 lauding a boom in tourism in Murree. His comments to Samaa on Saturday saying people should buy snow sprays instead of heading to those destinations has been slammed for insensitivity.

Journalist Zebunnisa Burki called the government's response as criminal in a series of tweets that were widely shared.

So many users called the authorities' response criminal and urged people to stay home.

The National Disaster Management Authority which had warned of issues should an influx into Murree become uncontrollable was also on the receiving end of the anger on Twitter.

Many appreciated the rescue efforts by the Pakistan army.

The prime minister who commands a strong and loyal following on Twitter equally had to face the brunt of social media users wrath. A scroll through the replies to his tweet expressing shock and vowing an inquiry into the incident proves eye opening.

Could this tragedy prove to be a moment of true introspection for lawmakers and administrators to review what went wrong and what can be done to avoid such tragedies in the future?

To quote the favorite and most common used refrain in Pakistan: only time will tell.

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