Current:Home > FinanceAll 8 people rescued from cable car dangling hundreds of feet above canyon in Pakistan, officials say-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
All 8 people rescued from cable car dangling hundreds of feet above canyon in Pakistan, officials say
lotradecoin two-factor authentication setup View Date:2024-12-25 14:29:18
Army commandos using helicopters and a makeshift chairlift rescued eight people from a broken cable car dangling hundreds of feet above a canyon Tuesday in a remote part of Pakistan, authorities said.
The six children and two adults became trapped earlier in the day when one of the cables snapped while the passengers were crossing a river canyon in Battagram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The children had been on their way to school.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar congratulated the military and other rescuers for the success. The dramatic effort transfixed the country for hours as Pakistanis crowded around televisions in offices, shops, restaurants and hospitals.
"Relieved to know that ... all the kids have been successfully and safely rescued," Kakar said on social media. "Great team work by the military, rescue departments, district administration as well as the local people.
Because helicopters could not fly after sunset, rescuers eventually shifted from an airborne effort to a risky operation that involved using one cable that was still intact to approach the car with the chairlift.
Footage on TV stations showed a child in a harness being pulled to safety. The commandos' rope could be seen swaying in the wind against the mountainous landscape.
An expert described the helicopter rescues as extremely delicate because the wind generated by the helicopter blades could further weaken the remaining cables holding the car aloft.
Several military helicopters had earlier in the day flown reconnaissance sorties and an airman was lowered by harness to deliver food, water and medicine, Tanveer Ur Rehman, a local government official, told AFP.
"This is a delicate operation that demands meticulous accuracy. The helicopter can not approach the chairlift closely, as its downwash (air pressure) might snap the sole chain supporting it," he said.
Anxious crowds gathered on both sides of the ravine, which is several hours from any sizeable town.
"Every time the helicopter lowered the rescuer closer to the chairlift, the wind from the helicopter would shake and disbalance the chairlift making the children scream in fear," Ghulamullah, chairman of the Allai valley area, told Geo News.
As the rescued children were handed over to their families, most burst into tears, said Nazir Ahmed, a senior police officer who was present in the area where the air and ground rescue mission was launched.
"Everyone was praying for this moment," he said.
A statement released by Pakistan's army said military pilots demonstrated "exceptional skill and professionalism" during the rescue, the BBC reported. Local cable experts also helped.
The statement described the rescue as "unique" and "an operation of unprecedented difficulty."
Food and water were supplied to the car earlier in the day, said Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for the state-run emergency service.
According to Pakistani TV stations, some of those trapped were in contact with their families by cellphone. Authorities said the two adults were consoling the children, who were between the ages of 11 and 15.
"For God's sake help us," a man stuck in the cable car told Pakistani television. "... One man has already fainted."
Villagers frequently use cable cars to get around Pakistan's mountainous regions. But the cars are often poorly maintained, and every year people die or are injured while traveling in them.
Kakar said he ordered safety inspections of the country's cable cars and chairlifts.
Helicopters were sent to attempt to pluck the people from the cable car but only after the group spent six hours precariously suspended 350 meters (1,150 feet) above ground, according to Taimoor Khan, a spokesman for the disaster management authority.
Several helicopters hovered above the scene, and ambulances gathered on the ground.
Tipu Sultan, a retired army brigadier and defense expert, warned that the helicopters themselves could make the situation worse but that the commandos would be well aware of that risk.
In 2017, 10 people were killed when a cable car fell into a ravine hundreds of meters (feet) deep in the popular mountain resort of Murree after its cable broke.
AFP contributed to this report.
- In:
- Pakistan
veryGood! (3613)
Related
- A slain teacher loved attending summer camp. His mom is working to give kids the same opportunity
- Why Bradley Cooper Feels Very Lucky Amid 19-Year Journey With Sobriety
- 14 people were shot, one fatally, in the same Milwaukee neighborhood, police say
- Three years after a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor, the final trial is set to begin
- Drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease and blood cancers among those affected by price negotiations
- Horoscopes Today, August 21, 2023
- Judge blocks Georgia ban on hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors
- NPR's podcast and programming chief Anya Grundmann to leave after 30 years
- Police identify suspect in break-in of Trump campaign office in Virginia
- Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley get married in star-studded ceremony on Long Beach Island
Ranking
- TikToker Nicole Renard Warren Claps Back Over Viral Firework Display at Baby’s Sex Reveal
- Rainfall from Hilary almost met the yearly average for some areas of California
- Portland Timbers fire coach Giovanni Savarese after MLS returns from Leagues Cup break
- Blac Chyna Shows Off Fitness Transformation Amid New Chapter
- A weatherman had a panic attack live on air. What it teaches us.
- Blac Chyna Shows Off Fitness Transformation Amid New Chapter
- Dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari set to be sentenced to life in prison
- The NFL's highest-paid offensive tackles: In-depth look at position's 2023 salary rankings
Recommendation
-
Usher concert postponed hours before tour opener in Atlanta
-
Miley Cyrus Is Giving Fans the Best of Both Worlds With Hannah Montana Shout-Out
-
Julie Bowen Weighs In on Sofía Vergara's Single Life After Joe Manganiello Breakup
-
Voter fatigue edges out optimism as Zimbabwe holds 2nd general election since Mugabe’s ouster
-
Pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked road near Sea-Tac Airport to have charges dropped
-
Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $300 Crossbody Bag for Just $89
-
Horoscopes Today, August 21, 2023
-
'Big Brother,' 'Below Deck' show reality TV improves by handling scandals publicly