In Alai Pashto, a chairlift became stranded at a height of 2,000 meters due to a broken rope. On board were seven ninth-grade children and a teacher, with two of the children losing consciousness. Supplies were delivered by helicopter, and a second phase of the rescue operation is currently underway.
As reported by Express News, seven children and a teacher were traveling to school in Bitgram’s hilly area at 8 o’clock in the morning when the incident occurred. The cable car had three cables, two of which broke, leaving only one cable supporting the suspended chairlift at an altitude of around 2000 meters. Local residents couldn’t initiate rescue efforts due to the precarious situation.
The Pakistan Army intervened, employing two helicopters and a team of SSG commandos to rescue those trapped. The operation was challenging because the remaining wire was delicate and could break under minimal air pressure. The helicopters’ approach caused the chairlift to shake, necessitating caution.
SSG commandos were lowered to the chairlift, providing food and medicine to the trapped individuals in the first phase. Afterward, the helicopters left, returning for the ongoing second phase of evacuation.
The individuals stuck in the chairlift include seven 9th-grade students and a teacher. Among them are Abrar Abdul Ghani, Irfan Umar Aziz, Gulfaraz Hakim Dad, Osama Sharif, Rizwan Abdul Qayyum, Attaullah, Niaz Muhammad, and Sher Nawaz. Two children in the lift lost consciousness when the rope broke around 8:30 in the morning.
The Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, instructed all relevant agencies to use available resources for the rescue. The Caretaker Home Minister, Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, also emphasized expediting the operation.
The Meteorological Department noted that the weather in the Bitgram area was currently clear, facilitating the rescue operation. However, there were predictions of rain and worsening weather by evening.