ISLAMABAD: Over 10 hours following the cable car incident, Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) successfully rescued two individuals out of the eight stranded comprising seven schoolchildren and a teacher. A gondola cable broke in Allai Tehsil within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Battagram district leaving them suspendedin mid-air.
With the aid of an army helicopter, they managed to rescue two children. However, due to darkness and turbulent weather conditions, the helicopter-assisted rescue operation halted.
The army then opted for a ground operation to rescue the remaining six individuals trapped within the cable car. To achieve this, they attached a smaller-sized cable car to the same cable to facilitate their retrieval.
Furthermore, they utilized the second cable car to transport vital supplies like food and water to those who found themselves stranded.
To provide expertise, the Pakistan Army enlisted the assistance of a local specialist in cable crossings.
Earlier in the day, the open cable car found itself stranded midway over a ravine, held by a lone cable after the other cable gave way, according to Shariq Riaz Khattak, a rescue official on site as reported by Reuters.
Responding to the situation, the Pakistan Army Aviation and the Pakistan Air Force deployed helicopters for the rescue operation, supported by SSG troops.
The rescue effort was intricate due to the area’s strong winds, and there was concern that the helicopter’s rotor blades might further destabilize the cable car, Khattak explained.
Initial report of incident
Initially, a report indicated that the cable car incident involved seven schoolchildren and a local resident en route to Batangi Government High School.
The incident occurred when one of the gondola’s cables snapped at approximately 7:45 am, leaving the cable car suspended at a height of 6,000 feet. Eight individuals, namely Abrar, Irfan, Usama, Rizwan Ullah, Ataullah, Niaz Muhammad, Sher Nawaz, and Gul Faraz, are currently within the lift.
Battagram’s deputy commissioner promptly contacted Hazara’s commissioner upon receiving the report, requesting a helicopter. Additionally, the SSG team in Kaghan Valley facilitated the arrival of helicopter at 11:45 am. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) helicopter reached the scene by 2 pm.
Presently, the district administration, police, and two rescue squads are at the site. Nearby health centers are on emergency alert, and the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Battagram is on high readiness.
Punjab’s DG Rescue, Dr. Rizwan Naseer, confirmed the preparedness of a specialized height rescue team, standing by for assistance.
Army to ‘continue rescue operation till night’
Reports indicate that the Army Aviation and SSG teams made a fourth attempt at rescuing the cable car passengers. The operation was challenging due to a cable above that could collide with the helicopter. The rescue proceeded cautiously.
Alternate strategies for the impending darkness were considered by the Pakistan Army. DSP Nazeer Ahmed assured the trapped children’s safety, maintaining continuous contact.
Strong winds initially complicated the operation, with the helicopter’s approach risking cable car stability.
Options included a risky sling operation by the SSG team, urged by Wing Commander (retd) Asim Nawaz.
Sling operations transport large loads in challenging terrain.
“There is a possibility of bad weather in this area. It is better if the helicopter is 60 to 80 feet away from the cable car,” he said.
Speaking about the operation, the former military officer said that during the sling operation, a commando will approach closer to the cable car.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a statement, “A cable car stuck at a height of about 900 ft midway due to breakage in one of its cable in Battagram. 8 persons including 6 children [are] stranded.”
The statement said NDMA provided coordination support to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
It further added, “After coordination Pak Army helicopter has been despatched for [the] rescue operation,”
Mansehra Deputy Inspector General of Police Tahir Ayub affirmed the incident and stated that the sole recourse is to employ a helicopter for rescuing the trapped passengers.
The cable car is suspended amidst a deep ravine, encircled by breathtaking mountains, commonly serving as a means of connection for remote villages and towns.
Senior KP provincial official Syed Hammad Haider reported the cable car’s position at approximately 1,000 to 1,200 feet above the ground.
“We have requested the KP government to provide a helicopter because the relief activity is not possible without the help of a helicopter,” he said.
Passengers stuck for several hours
Presently on the cable car, 20-year-old Gulfaraz informed Geo News via phone that he and fellow passengers have been stranded for over six hours.
Gulfaraz revealed that a 16-year-old co-passenger with a heart ailment has been unconscious for the past three hours. He explained that the teenager was enroute to the hospital via the cable car.
He complained, “We don’t even have drinking water in the cable car.”
Gulfaraz said the first wire broke at 7am and another cable broke down soon after.
The 20-year-old said, “The first cable broke down after the cable car travelled a mile.”
He further added that the passengers have been waiting for help since early morning. Gulfaraz confirmed that there are eight people in the cable car of which six are students.
He said that the ages of students are between 10 to 16 years old.
Cable car located at 2 thousand meters
The cable car incident occurred at 8:30 am in Battagram’s Pashto area, situated at around two thousand meters. The cable car, traversing through mountainous rainwater channels, was used by stranded schoolchildren en route to their mountain school.
Efforts for rescue are ongoing under the supervision of District Police Officer Sonia Shamrose. School teacher Zafar Iqbal confirmed students were using the cable car for commuting.
“The cable car is used to go from one place to another. In this area, 150 children come to school by cable car,” he said. He further confirmed that two wires of the cable car broke down mid-air.
Caretaker PM orders inspection of all cable cars
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed the NDMA and PDMA to “urgently ensure safe rescue and evacuation of the 8 people stuck in the chairlift”.
He further added.”I have also directed the authorities to conduct safety inspections of all such private chairlift and ensure that they are safe to operate and use.”
Faisal Karim Kundi, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader also posted on X, requesting the ministers to take the action immediately.
