A devastating incident occurred in Seo Tehsil of Upper Kohistan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday, resulting in the loss of three precious lives. A chairlift, used by residents of Kama village to commute to Dasu city, collapsed and fell into the Indus River, sweeping away the victims.
According to officials, the chairlift’s foundations, weakened by the high water flow in the river over the past two days, gave way, causing the aerial lift to plummet into the river. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Abdur Rehman confirmed the incident, stating that the victims, identified as Muhammad Sher, Fidaur Rehman, and Mir Alam, all residents of Kaiga, drowned in the river.
The victims’ relatives reported that they were returning to their village from Dasu via the cable car when the tragedy occurred. The Kohistan administration has called in a Rescue 1122 team from Shangla to assist in the search operation, which is being hindered by the high water flow in the Indus River.
This incident highlights the risks associated with makeshift cable cars, commonly used in KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, where roads and bridges cannot be built due to the terrain. While these cable cars provide essential transportation, their safety is often compromised, resulting in tragic events like this.
Last month, a similar incident occurred in the Bisham area, where a man drowned while trying to rescue his son stranded on a chairlift. In 2022, eight people, including six children, were left stranded in a chairlift in Battagram after the wires snapped, but were rescued by the army and locals.
The government must take immediate action to ensure the safety of these makeshift cable cars, which are a lifeline for many communities. Regular maintenance, inspections, and safety measures must be implemented to prevent such tragedies.
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