CHITRAL: A cable car stuck midway over the Chitral River after developing a fault, stranding three passengers travelling in it for about two hours here on Tuesday morning.

A team of Rescue 1122 rushed to the spot soon afterwards. A team member crept along the rope to the cable car and hitched it a string to pull the cradle to the riverbank. The rescue operation was completed in 45 minutes.

All the three persons aboard the cable car belonged to Gohkir village, and were going to Booni, the district headquarters of Upper Chitral, from Kuragh village.

A witness said over 30 students had crossed the river from Gach Lasht village to Kuragh side 20 minutes before the cable car developed a fault.

The cable car has been used by the residents of Kosht, Drungagh, Lone and Gohkir villages to cross the river since a jeep-able suspension bridge had been washed away by the catastrophic floods in 2015.

Upper Chitral deputy commissioner Khalid Zaman told Dawn that the cab car was sealed after the incident.

He said free transportation facility would be provided to the students, while the general commuters would now use the diversion of Kosht Bridge at a distance of four kilometres.

He claimed the facility had recently been inspected by engineers of C&W and TMA Mastuj, declaring it to be fit for operation.

Meanwhile, cash prizes and commendation certificates were given away to Rescue 1122 team for their prompt action to save the stranded persons in the cable car.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023