PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- In a daring rescue operation, Pakistani rescuers managed to bring seven children and one man to safety from a stranded cable car that had been hanging precariously over a remote ravine for over 15 hours.
The military described this as a highly skilled and unique operation, which unfolded in the darkness of night after the cable car malfunctioned early in the morning, leaving it suspended at an alarming angle throughout the day.
"All the kids have been successfully and safely rescued," announced caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on the messaging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), giving credit to the military, rescue departments, district administration, and local residents for their exceptional teamwork.
Initially, a military helicopter rescue operation had commenced but was halted as nightfall approached, with two children already rescued. Floodlights were installed to facilitate the ground-based rescue that continued into the night.
Specialized cable crossing experts were diligently working to rescue the children individually by transferring them onto a small platform positioned along the cable.
In a dramatic scene captured on television, a child was shown being lifted from the cable car using a harness, swaying gently from side to side before safely reaching the ground.
The entire nation was captivated by this rescue mission, with people across Pakistan glued to their television screens. Media broadcasts featured gripping footage of an emergency worker suspended from a helicopter cable near the compact cabin, where those inside were crowded together anxiously awaiting their turn to be rescued.
The Pakistan military has successfully completed an incredibly challenging and intricate operation, safely evacuating all those stranded and relocating them to a secure area. The civil administration and local residents also played active roles in this effort.
A video shared by a rescue agency official depicted over a dozen rescuers and locals working together near the edge of the dark ravine. They pulled on a cable until a boy, secured by a harness, reached the hillside amid shouts of "God is great."
The rescue process was described as slow and perilous, with a person tethering themselves with a rope, using a small chairlift to rescue individuals one by one, as explained by resident Abdul Nasir Khan.
The cable car incident occurred around 7 a.m. (0200 GMT) when students were en route to school in the mountainous Battagram area, approximately 200 km (125 miles) north of Islamabad. The cable car became stranded halfway across the ravine, suspended some 275 meters (900 feet) above the ground, according to Shariq Riaz Khattak, a rescue official at the site.
Attempts at helicopter rescue were complicated by gusty winds and concerns that the rotor blades could further destabilize the cable car, further intensifying the situation.
One of the passengers, Gulfaraz, a 20-year-old, communicated the dire circumstances to local television channel Geo News over the phone, revealing that the children on board were between the ages of 10 and 15, and one had fainted due to heat and fear.