Pakistan Rescues Stranded Cable Car School Children in Daring Operation

A harrowing ordeal came to an end as Pakistani authorities executed a daring rescue operation to save six children and two adults who were stranded for 14 hours in a ruptured cable car, hanging hundreds of feet above the forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The cable car, used by students to commute between villages, suffered a cable snap, leaving the passengers in a perilous situation.

Amidst challenging weather conditions, the Pakistani armed forces orchestrated a complex rescue mission involving helicopters and zip lines. The strong winds in the area posed a significant challenge, complicating the efforts to stabilize the cable car and safely retrieve the passengers.

One child was airlifted by helicopter, while the others were brought to safety using a zip line in the darkness of nightfall. Dramatic footage captured the heart-stopping moment when a child clung to a rope hanging from a helicopter before being brought to safety.

During the ordeal, some of the trapped students were slipping in and out of consciousness due to anxiety and lack of essentials like drinking water. Authorities provided medical assistance, including nausea and heart-related medication, to the passengers.

The successful rescue operation drew widespread relief and praise across Pakistan. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar commended the collaborative effort of the military, rescue departments, local administration, and citizens.

Cable cars are a common mode of transportation in the challenging terrain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, often serving as a lifeline for remote villages. Battagram district, where the incident occurred, suffers from poverty and inadequate infrastructure. While cable cars are essential for travel, their lack of proper maintenance has led to incidents in the past. In response to a previous incident, the prime minister had ordered the closure of dilapidated and non-compliant chairlifts.

This recent rescue operation highlights the courage and resourcefulness of Pakistan’s authorities in the face of adversity, and the importance of ensuring the safety and maintenance of essential transportation systems.