After a 14-hour ordeal, all eight individuals, including six children and two adults, who were stranded in a cable car hanging hundreds of feet above a valley in northwest Pakistan, have been successfully rescued. Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar expressed relief and commended the collaborative efforts of the military, rescue departments, district administration, and locals. The rescue operation began when a cable snapped, leaving six children and two teachers stuck approximately 900 feet above a valley as they were traveling to school in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Helicopters and zip lines were initially used in the rescue, but nightfall led to a pause in helicopter operations. Some children in the cable car experienced medical issues, and rescue personnel provided them with the necessary medication. This incident prompted the prime minister to order the immediate closure of unsafe chairlifts.
After a grueling 14-hour ordeal, a total of eight individuals—comprising six children and two adults—who found themselves stranded within a cable car suspended hundreds of feet over a valley in northwest Pakistan, have been successfully rescued, as confirmed by the country’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, in an official statement.
In a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Prime Minister expressed his relief, stating, “Relieved to know that Alhamdolillah all the kids have been successfully and safely rescued. Great teamwork by the military, rescue departments, district administration as well as the local people.”
The rescue operation was initiated on Tuesday morning, local time, after a group of six children and two teachers were en route to school in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tragedy struck when one of the cables supporting the gondola snapped, leaving the cable car suspended approximately 900 feet above the valley floor, according to official reports.
Helicopters and zip lines were employed as part of the rescue effort, with nightfall prompting a temporary halt in the helicopter rescues of the remaining individuals. The cable car had been transporting passengers between the villages of Btangi and Jhengarie, making several trips on that fateful Tuesday before the cable gave way. This incident was further compounded by adverse weather conditions, specifically strong winds, which hindered initial attempts to reach the stranded passengers, as explained by Tanveer Ur Rehman, the deputy commissioner of Battagram district.
Cable cars play a vital role in ferrying students from remote and mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to and from school. However, safety concerns are raised due to the irregular maintenance of some of these systems, resulting in risky travel conditions.
During the rescue operation, reports surfaced that two of the students within the cable car were intermittently losing consciousness. One of the passengers, identified as Gulfaraz, appealed to state authorities for immediate action. The students, aged between 10 and 15 years old, were reported to be lacking even basic drinking water.
In light of the situation, rescue personnel administered anti-nausea medication to passengers who were experiencing vomiting, and heart-related medication was provided to those trapped. In response to this incident, Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister has taken decisive action. His office released a statement mandating the immediate closure of all “dilapidated and non-compliant chairlifts,” underlining the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals using such transportation systems.