Another team from the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) is currently en route to the Allai tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Battagram, where eight people, including six schoolchildren, have been trapped in a cable car since early morning on Tuesday. The situation is being closely monitored by the national authorities, and rescue operations are underway to safely rescue the stranded individuals.
The rescue mission has been complicated by gusty winds in the area, and the helicopters’ rotor blades risk destabilizing the cable car further. Efforts have been made to lower a rescuer using a sling, but the strong winds generated by the helicopter have caused the cable car to shake and become unbalanced, scaring the children inside.
Local officials and experts familiar with such rescue operations have suggested that utilizing a smaller, more stable helicopter or employing an MI-17 helicopter may prove more effective. However, the challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions make the operation even more complex.
In case the helicopter rescue attempts are unsuccessful, Rescue 1122 teams are prepared to conduct ground operations using a snorkel. Nets have also been spread under the cable car to ensure the safety of the passengers in case of any mishaps.
The incident occurred during the morning hours when six students and two locals were traveling in the cable car. The cable car, operated privately by locals, serves as a transportation mode in the absence of roads or bridges in the area. The cable car is currently suspended in a deep ravine surrounded by mountains and a rocky surface, with the Jhangri river flowing beneath it.
Rescue authorities, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), have been directed by the caretaker Prime Minister and the caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to utilize all available resources to ensure the safe rescue of the stranded individuals. They have also emphasized the need to conduct safety audits of all chairlifts and cable cars in the hilly areas and close down any structures that do not meet the required safety standards.
This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.