The owner and operator of a Battagram chairlift, stranded due to high winds above a ravine, have been arrested following the incident. Mohammad Sheraz Khan, a district police officer, confirmed their apprehension after rescuing stranded individuals. Tahir Ayub, Deputy Inspector General of Hazara Division, explained that a cable break caused the mishap. Consequently, legal actions have been initiated against the owner, Gulzarain, and the operator, Ejaz.
Despite earlier notices from the Deputy Commissioner of Battagram, demanding chairlift safety reports, there had been no response from the involved chairlift owner. Addressing the lift’s future, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for thorough repair and safety assurances before its restoration. Given their essential role in hilly terrains, the government, as the DIG points out, will regulate chairlift operations instead of banning them.
Read: Heroic Rescue in Battagram: Army Safely Retrieves Stranded Cable Car Passengers
Following the mishap, rescuers saved eight people who had been trapped for over 15 hours. As a direct result, chairlifts in hilly areas, especially in Balakot, have been temporarily sealed, disrupting local connectivity. Villages have been isolated, with the Paror community particularly affected, facing issues like food shortages and educational interruptions.
Munir Hussain Shah, a former local leader, highlighted the dangers of chairlifts, recalling past incidents. He lamented the delay in bridge construction in Paror, which was approved two years earlier. Residents are now pressing the government to prioritize reopening the bridge’s construction and chairlift.
This incident has highlighted the struggles of meeting transportation requirements while ensuring safety in areas dependent on chairlifts for movement.
