A Pakistani taxi driver steers his vechile during a snowfall in Murree, some 70 kilometers from Islamabad on January 8, 2014. The season’s first snow fell in Murree and adjoining areas. AFP PHOTO/Farooq NAEEM (Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM / AFP)

21 people have died after heavy snow trapped them in their vehicles in northern Pakistan.

As many as 1,000 vehicles became stranded as would-be tourists reportedly rushed to view the winter snowfall in the hilltop town of Murree.

A policeman, his wife and their six children, as well as another family-of-five, are among the dead, according to local emergency services Rescue 1122.

The military is attempting to clear roads and rescue those still trapped.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the crisis had been caused by the number of people travelling to the area, north of the capital Islamabad.

More than 100,000 cars had arrived in the colonial-era town in recent days, with social media in Pakistan flooded with pictures of people enjoying the snow.

But, local media reported that tourists were getting stranded. On Saturday, the heavy snow increased prompting authorities to declare the region a disaster zone.

BBC

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