Schoolchildren Rescued from Dangling Cable Car in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A group of schoolchildren who were trapped in a broken cable car high above a valley in Pakistan shared their terrifying ordeal on Wednesday. The children, who were on their way to school on Tuesday, thought they were going to die as the car dangled for 16 hours. Despite their parents’ attempts to reassure them over cellphones, the children feared the worst.
The cable car incident occurred when one of the car’s cables snapped, leaving the passengers stranded in mid-air. The children, along with two adults, were eventually rescued in a daring operation. One of the youngest children was lifted by a commando attached to a helicopter with a rope, while others were lowered to the ground using a makeshift chairlift constructed by villagers.
One of the volunteers involved in the rescue, Mohammad Sohaib, emerged as a hero after helping to save three of the trapped children. Fifteen-year-old Osama Sharif, one of the rescued children, described the rescue as a “miracle.” The children expressed their gratitude to the rescuers and appealed for the construction of a school and bridge in their village so they wouldn’t have to rely on the cable car in the future.
In the wake of the incident, Gul Zarin, the owner of the cable car, was arrested on charges of neglecting safety measures. Local authorities have also announced the closure of all cable cars believed to be unsafe in the northwestern mountainous regions.
The rescue operation attracted a large crowd of onlookers, who witnessed the risks involved in the operation. The swirling air currents caused by the helicopter blades posed a potential danger to the cable car, which was already hanging by a single intact cable. As the operation continued late into the night, a makeshift chairlift was used to bring the cable car closer to the ground, prompting shouts of relief and joy from the waiting crowd.
The rescued children were given oxygen as a precaution before being reunited with their parents, many of whom were overwhelmed with tears of joy. The survivors, including 11-year-old Rizwan Ullah and 25-year-old Gul Faraz, spoke of their traumatizing experience and emphasized the need for a school and better transportation infrastructure in their village.
As the investigation into the incident continues, there is hope that measures will be taken to improve the safety of cable cars in the area. The rescued children expressed mixed feelings about using the cable car in the future, with some vowing to be brave and others hoping for alternative transportation options.
The cable car incident in Pakistan serves as a reminder of the risks associated with poorly maintained transportation systems in mountainous regions. It also highlights the courage and dedication of the rescuers who worked tirelessly to save the trapped children.
