Efforts to rescue passengers trapped inside a cable car since early morning in Allai tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Battagram are continuing into the night with five children rescued so far.
This leaves three people inside the cable car dangling thousands of feet in the air above a ravine.
The number of rescued children was confirmed by the military’s media affairs wing around 9:45pm, more than 12 hours after the rescue operation began.
- Rescue operation under way for more than 12 hours to retrieve people trapped in a cable car
- 5 children rescued so far, 3 people still stuck
- Passengers found themselves stranded thousands of feet above the ground when two wires of the cable car snapped early in the morning
- 4 helicopters of Pakistan Army used in the rescue operation
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the general commanding officer of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) was leading the rescue operation.
The operation is under way to rescue the people who remain inside the cable car, the statement added.
Separately, Deputy Commissioner Tanveerur Rehman told that “zipline experts and other civil and military experts and local cable operators are on the spot and helping us in the rescue operation”.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan has reported that food and drinks are being supplied to the stranded people via a small chairlift dolly.
Rescue operation
The first two children were rescued by the armed forces amid rough weather and following multiple attempts shortly before the sunset as part of an operation that saw the use of four helicopters.
Once the darkness set in, state broadcaster PTV News reported that the aerial operation had been “called off” due to “night and weather conditions” but rescue efforts through “alternative means” were ongoing.
A correspondent at the site saw area locals preparing to launch a rescue attempt from on ground. The procedure, which he described as “quite risky”, involved a rescuer sliding on a rope to approach the cable car.
Sling operation
The rescuer is suspended with a sling and approaches the affected site/person. He or she is tied with the rescuer or another sling is used to hoist the person. Meanwhile, the helicopter pilot and rescuer have to be cautious of the downdraft (air that is deflected towards the ground) that is generated by the chopper’s propellers.
Earlier, Assistant Commissioner Jawad Hussain was the first to confirm the rescue of the first child.
The child was rescued by Pakistan Army personnel, the AC said, adding that belts had been delivered to the passengers inside the cable car. The first child was rescued with the help of a rope that was hooked onto the belt he was wearing.
Explaining the rescue process, a correspondent present on site said an SSG commando conducted the rescue mission, and dropped the child at a nearby makeshift helipad.
Soon after, the news of the second child’s rescue was shared by KP Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi as well as Hazara Deputy Inspector General of Police Tahir Ayub Khan.
The military’s media affairs wing also confirmed it had rescued the two children, adding that the operation was under way to rescue the rest of the individuals stuck in the chairlift.
Meanwhile, Allai valley tehsil chairman Mufti Ghulamullah said the army helicopters retreated after the sunset due to poor visibility. “The operation is suspended,” he added.
The correspondent further said darkness had fallen upon the area and that flashlights as well as other lighting equipment were being used on to aid the rescue efforts.
Impediments to rescue efforts
Earlier, Shariq Riaz Khattak, a rescue official at the site of the incident, told Reuters that initially two attempts at rescue were aborted.
He added that a cable 30 feet above the dangling cable car was impeding the operation.
He explained that the rescue mission was complicated due to gusty winds in the area and the fact the helicopters’ rotor blades risked further destabilising the lift.
Similarly, tehsil chairman Ghulamullah told that “every time the helicopter lowered the rescuer closer to the chairlift, the wind from the helicopter would shake and disbalance the chairlift making the children scream in fear”.
DC Tanveerur Rehman explained that “this is a delicate operation that demands meticulous accuracy. The helicopter can not approach the chairlift closely, as its downwash (air pressure) might snap the sole chain supporting it”.
Syed Jawad Ahmed, a former army pilot, gave a similar.
He was of the view that a smaller helicopter could potentially execute the task more effectively owing to its inherent stability.
Additionally, Ahmed raised the possibility of employing an MI-17 helicopter for the rescue mission. However, he acknowledged that this option was contingent upon the terrain, which seemed unfavourable given the high altitude and challenging conditions.
AC Hussain told that the local administration along with Rescue 1122 teams were present at the spot, but due to the height and the hilly terrain, it was not possible for rescue officials to carry out a relief operation.
He said immediately after the incident was reported, a request was sent to the provincial chief secretary for a helicopter to rescue the passengers.
As sunset approached, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi told that the rescue operation would continue into the night.
“Flashlights, disaster vehicles and [rescue] personnel are present at the site, while rescue authorities and the Pakistan Army are preparing a joint strategy to continue operation at night,” he said.
The incident
The incident occurred in the Allai tehsil early morning — estimated between 7am and 8am — when six students and two locals were on the way to school.
They got stuck when two wires of the cable car snapped, the assistant commissioner said, adding that the cable car was privately run by locals for transportation across rivers as there were no roads or bridges in the area.
The cable car is dangling in the middle of a deep ravine surrounded by towering mountains and a rocky surface, along with the Jhangri river beneath it.Details regarding the height at which the passengers are stuck is not yet clear. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) estimated it to be 1,000-2,000ft.
Student speaks to media from cable car
in the morning, Gulfaraz, one of the passengers stuck in the cable car, said two of the students aboard were slipping in an out of unconsciousness.
The 20-year-old said the stuck students were between the ages of 10 and 15 years.
Gulfaraz urged the state authorities to take action keeping “human empathy and human life” in mind. He added, “People in our area are standing here and crying”.
When asked if the students had any food items with them, Gulfaraz replied they did not even have drinking water: “Where will food items come from? […] There is a great need for drinking water.”
He added that his mobile battery was also low while others had a “simple mobile phone”.
Hours later, he spoke to AFP on the phone while still stuck midair. “The evening is coming nearer. Tell us why the helicopters are going back?” he said.
By then, government official Rehman told that several military helicopters flew reconnaissance sorties and an airman was lowered by harness to deliver food, water and medicine.
Meanwhile, Abdul Nasir Khan, a local resident, said while speaking to Reuters, “We are helplessly looking at them but can’t help.”
PM asks authorities to utilise all resources for rescue operation
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has directed authorities to immediately rescue the trapped people, Radio Pakistan reported.
He further instructed that the “safety arrangements on all such chairlifts in the hilly areas” be ensured and directed to immediately close the chairlifts which are in dilapidated condition and do not meet safety standards, the report added.
Radio Pakistan further said that the NDMA has provided coordination support to the PDMA for the rescue of the persons.
Safety audit has been asked from all PDMAs by the NDMA on tourist infrastructure in their respective areas, the report added.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan also took notice of the incident and directed that action be taken on an “emergency basis for the safe rescue of the stuck persons”.
Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said the rescue operation was in “full swing”.
Lack of roads
Iqbal, the school teacher, explained that at least 150 students took the hazardous journey to school by cable car every day due to the lack of road facilities in the area.
“There are no other arrangements,” he lamented, adding that no such incident had occurred previously.
The teacher further said that it had been around eight years since the cable car was installed and it was checked every month.
Separately, DPO Sonia Shamroz highlighted the need for maintaining cable cars and chairlifts in the area because of their frequent use.
She noted that using chairlifts was the usual mode of transport for most children in such “hilly terrains”, which is why maintenance was extremely important.