ISLAMABAD, June 9: As many as 25 tourists were injured when three of the 12 cable cars fell down due to heavy windstorm at the famous hill resort of Patriata, some 25 kilometres from Murree, on Thursday evening. Hundreds of chairlift and cable car riders remained hanging in the air for many hours after the incident, which occurred at about 5pm, till the officials of the local administration and armymen reached the site.

A two-year-old girl, Mahnoor, who had gone missing, was recovered by the rescuers after about four hours.

Most of the injured were taken to Civil Hospital, Murree, and some of them were shifted to various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Those admitted to the Civil Hospital, Murree, are Mohammad Shahzad, a resident of Faisalabad, Tahira Bibi (Haripur), Wasim (Faisalabad), Syed Zahid Hussain (Rawalpindi), Ejaz (Karachi), Rabia Ejaz (Karachi), Habibullah (Karachi), Razia Bibi (Karachi), Hira Ejaz (Karachi), Mohammad Salim (Faisalabad), Arafat Hussain (Faisalabad), Sajida Bibi (Faisalabad), Sajid (Faisalabad) and Mohammad Rizwan (Faisalabad).

According to the doctors in Murree, the condition of four persons, including Nazeeran Bibi of Faisalabad, was serious due to head injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the cable cars fell down from a height of 150 feet. Women and children in other hanging cable cars started crying for help after the accident.—Staff Reporter