MURREE: Around 40 people were left hanging when the chain from a pulley at the Patriata chairlift slipped, Rescue 1122 sources have confirmed. Eight people are reportedly in the danger zone.

An iron pillar on the chairlift was moved by a severe thunderstorm, and the resulting imbalance caused the chain to slip from the pulley.

Tourists and locals have been helping those caught in the lift, and Rescue 1122 officials arrived after half an hour. They were still trying to rescue the passengers by the time this report was filed.

The lift’s administration recently spent millions to maintain and upgrade the service, and the Punjab tourism minister also inaugurated the project.

Various chairlift staffers and officials could not be reached for comment on this incident.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019