Police in the Allai tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Battagram have arrested two individuals in connection with the cable car incident that left eight people stranded in a dangling vehicle for 14 hours before being rescued. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning, caused panic nationwide as people feared for the trapped individuals in the cable car.
The cable car had been dangling in the middle of a deep ravine surrounded by towering mountains and a rocky surface, along with the Jhangri river, for several hours. Eventually, a successful rescue operation led by the military and other authorities, with assistance from locals, was able to free the stranded individuals.
In a recent development, the Allai police have apprehended the cable car owner, Malik Gulzarin, and the operator, Ejaz. An FIR has been lodged against them in connection with the incident.
The police were notified about the stranded cable car in the Bala area on Tuesday morning. Upon receiving the report, police teams, including senior officers, immediately arrived at the scene. The FIR states that the rescue operation involved volunteers from the Al-Khidmat Foundation, as well as personnel from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force, along with their commandos.
The FIR blames the cable car owner and operator for negligence and carelessness, attributing the incident to their actions. It highlights the use of substandard rope for the cable car and the failure to provide a fitness certificate as required by the authorities. These negligent actions endangered the lives of the eight people on board and caused emotional distress, as well as financial losses for the government.
The charges against the two individuals will be formally presented in court once all necessary legal procedures are completed.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of cable cars in the area. As a response, a team mandated by the chief secretary’s office will conduct visits and inspect all cable cars in the tehsil. Fitness and quality inspections will be carried out to ensure the safety of passengers. Poor quality cable cars will be sealed and prohibited from operating until they meet the required standards.
In the aftermath of the incident, Senator Talha Mahmood visited the area to meet the rescued individuals and their families. He provided financial assistance for the construction of a road and distributed money to the families of those rescued and the rescuers.