Another Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) team has reached Battagram to rescue eight people who have been stuck in a cable car for about 10 hours now. They have not been able to rescue anyone so far even though a couple of rescue attempts have been made. However, they have supplied them with water and food.
According to witnesses, gusty winds and with the night approaching, rescue process will get more difficult.
At least eight students and two teachers are stuck in a chair lift 2000 meters above ground level in the Alai district of Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the two of the three cables of the pod snapped midway through their journey, ARY has reported.
Videos show the chair lift suspended high above a valley, tethering at a precarious angle, connected to land via a single cable. The cables reportedly snapped around 6 am, with the children’s ordeal spanning five hours as of the time this report is being filed.
Local police have said that Rescue teams have run out of options, prompting Sultan Aamir, the Commissioner of Hazara, to ask the caretaker government for a helicopter.
The Commissioner has said that a helicopter of the Pakistan Army will arrive soon to begin a rescue attempt.
I am thankful to the Almighty for being given an opportunity to serve the people of Pakistan. My gratitude also extends to all the stakeholders for reposing their trust in me to lead the country.
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 12, 2023
Prayers requested from everyone that Allah gives me the fortitude to carry out my…
Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar ul Haq Kakar took to X (former Twitter) on Tuesday and said that the chairlift incident is “really alarming”. He has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to “urgently ensure safe rescue and evacuation of the 8 people stuck in the chairlift”.
Caretaker PM Kakar further added that he has also directed authorities to “conduct safety inspections of all such private chairlifts and ensure that they are safe to operate and use”.
