Stuck in Snow in Your Car in Pakistan: NDMA's Rules on the Exhaust, Heater and Carbon Monoxide
Stuck in snow in Murree, Naran or Swat? NDMA says stay in the car, clear the exhaust, run the heater in short spells with a window open and call Rescue 1122.
Short answer: If snow or a road closure traps your car in Murree, Naran, Swat or Gilgit-Baltistan, NDMA's rule is: stay inside the vehicle, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, run the engine and heater only now and then with a window open a little, and call Rescue 1122. Do not leave the car where it blocks snow ploughs. The danger is not only cold. A blocked exhaust fills a closed car with carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell.
We took these rules from NDMA's weather advisory of 10 November 2026, which covers rain and mountain snow until 14 November. We downloaded the 9 page PDF from the Advisories page on ndma.gov.pk on 12 November and read the traveller and avalanche sections on pages 3 to 5. The rule on being stranded is item 3a(3)(m), on page 4. It is two lines long, so below we explain each part in plain words and add what NDMA says around it.
Stay inside the car and keep the exhaust clear
NDMA's first instruction for anyone stranded by snow or a road closure is to remain inside the vehicle. A car gives shelter from wind and keeps you where rescuers can find you. Walking off in snow, in the dark, on a mountain road is how people get lost.
The second instruction is to keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. When snow piles up behind a parked car, it blocks the pipe. The engine's fumes then have nowhere to go and leak into the cabin. Check the pipe every time you run the engine, and clear it by hand or with a stick.
Run the engine and heater only now and then, with air coming in
NDMA says to operate the engine and heater "intermittently with adequate ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning". In plain words: do not run the engine all night. Run it for short spells to warm the car, then switch it off. While it runs, keep one window open a crack, on the side away from the wind.
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Clear snow from the exhaust pipe before each start | Run the engine with the pipe buried in snow |
| Run the heater in short spells | Sleep with the engine running and windows shut |
| Open a window a little while the engine runs | Light a stove, coal or gas heater inside the car |
| Keep fuel in the tank before you set off | Let the tank run low on a mountain road |
| Stay with the car and call 1122 | Walk away in snow or darkness |
Carbon monoxide gives few warnings. NDMA does not list the symptoms, but the usual early signs are headache, dizziness, sleepiness and sickness are the early signs. If anyone in the car feels this, switch off the engine, open the windows and get fresh air at once. The same advisory warns against coal fires, wood stoves and gas heaters in closed spaces for the same reason. Our guide to using a gas heater safely covers that risk at home.
What to do if you are stranded in snow, step by step
Here is the order we would follow. Steps 3 to 7 come from NDMA's rules on pages 3 and 4 of the advisory; steps 1 and 2 are our own common-sense additions:
- Pull over where you do not block the road, away from steep slopes and cliffs where snow or rocks may fall.
- Switch on hazard lights so other drivers and rescuers can see you.
- Call Rescue 1122, or the motorway police on 130 if you are on a national highway, and give your location.
- Check and clear the exhaust pipe before you start the engine.
- Warm the car in short spells with a window open a crack.
- Put on every warm layer you have, including caps, gloves and blankets.
- Follow instructions from traffic police, district officers and rescue teams.
NDMA also says not to abandon a vehicle in a way that blocks snow clearance, rescue vehicles or other traffic. If you must leave the car to reach shelter that rescuers point you to, leave it fully off the road.
Keep warm clothes, food and a charged phone in the car
NDMA's list for travellers to snow areas says to carry warm clothing, blankets, food, drinking water, medicines, a first aid kit, torches, batteries and fully charged phones or power banks, and to keep enough fuel. A full tank is the most useful item on that list. It lets you run the heater in spells for many hours.
Watch the people in the car for cold injury. Shivering, numbness, confusion or unusual sleepiness are signs NDMA lists for hypothermia and frostbite. Our guide to spotting hypothermia and frostbite explains first aid. For what to pack, see our winter packing list for Murree, Naran and Hunza.
Avoid getting stranded in the first place
The best rule in the advisory is the first one for travellers: check PMD forecasts, NDMA advisories and motorway police updates before you set off for the mountains, and do not travel during heavy snow, blizzards or avalanche warnings. NDMA also asks travellers to fit anti-skid chains for Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kaghan, Naran, Neelum and Gilgit-Baltistan, and to prefer local drivers who know mountain roads.
On 12 November, the current advisory was the top item on ndma.gov.pk/advisories, marked with a red star, and the PDF opened without a login. Before a trip, also check road status for Naran, Swat and Chitral.
Common questions
Should I stay in my car if I am stuck in snow?
Yes. NDMA tells stranded travellers to remain inside the vehicle and call for help, rather than walk away in snow.
Is it safe to run the car heater when stuck in snow?
Only in short spells, with the exhaust pipe clear of snow and a window slightly open. A blocked exhaust can fill the car with carbon monoxide.
Which number do I call if I am stranded in Murree or Naran?
Rescue 1122. On national highways and motorways, the motorway police helpline is 130.
What are the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Headache, dizziness, sleepiness and sickness. Switch off the engine and get fresh air at once.
Can I leave my car on the road and walk?
NDMA says not to abandon a vehicle where it blocks snow clearance, rescue vehicles or traffic. Stay with it unless rescuers direct you elsewhere.
Do I need snow chains for Murree?
NDMA advises anti-skid chains for Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kaghan, Naran, Neelum and Gilgit-Baltistan in snow.
Sources: NDMA Weather Advisory F.2(E)/2026-NDMA dated 10 November 2026, pages 2 to 5, on ndma.gov.pk. Last checked 12 November 2026.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
