Pakistani authorities, army and locals worked together to successfully rescue eight individuals, including six students and a teacher, from a traumatic situation that unfolded over the skies of Battagram’s Allai Valley.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar made the announcement on X, previously known as Twitter, saying: “Relieved to know that Alhamdolillah all the kids have been successfully and safely rescued. Great teamwork by the military, rescue departments, district administration as well as the local people.
How the incident unfolded?
Earlier in the morning, an open cable car became stranded halfway across a ravine and was hanging by a single cable leaving the passengers stranded 900 feet above the ground.
“An extremely difficult and complicated operation has been successfully completed by the Pakistan military,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. “All stranded persons were safely evacuated and moved to a safe place”.
The painful ordeal
As the sun dawned on Tuesday morning, a routine journey turned into a terrifying ordeal for six schoolchildren from Government High School Batangi Pashto. The chairlift broke down, leaving them hanging dangerously at a steep angle over the Jangri Khwar stream. The swift response of local residents, along with the intervention of military and provincial agencies, set the stage for a high-stakes rescue operation that lasted more than 15 hours.
Details: Hours-Long rescue operation amidst gusty winds
Against all odds, the Pakistan Army’s aviation and Special Services Group (SSG) collaborated seamlessly with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) helicopters to carry out the treacherous rescue operation.
With gusty winds challenging the mission, a sling team from the SSG took center stage, safely evacuating the stranded individuals, one by one, from a height of 600 feet.
The daring rescue operation commenced with a helicopter delicately retrieving two children to safety following nearly 12 hours of suspense. Subsequently, the rescuers ingeniously employed the cable as a makeshift zipline, preventing the gondola’s uncertain descent into the valley.
Individual by individual, the pair of children was airlifted to safety by the helicopter, as confirmed by District Official Shah Fahad. Captured by television cameras, the heart-stirring scene depicted a child suspended from the helicopter by a harness, swaying gently before being securely lowered to the ground from the cable car.
A video shared by an official from a rescue agency depicted a determined assembly of more than a dozen rescuers and local residents positioned along the rim of the dimly lit ravine. Collaboratively, they tugged on a cable until a young boy, securely fastened to it with a harness, reached the hillside, ensuring his safe arrival.
Local media broadcasted gripping visuals of an emergency worker suspended from a helicopter cable in close proximity to the compact cabin, where occupants were confined together.
In a testament to their unwavering dedication, the high-stakes operation persevered well into the darkness of the night. Nevertheless, it reached its conclusion after a span exceeding 15 hours.
The high-risk operation was completed further in the darkness of night. However, the ordeal ended after more than 15 hours. “It was a unique operation that required lots of skill,” the military statement said.
“A talented team of the Army Aviation and the SSG started the rescue operation quickly. Later, a sling team of the SSG and a helicopter of the Pakistan Air Force also became a part of the operation,” the ISPR said.
“The sling team of the SSG safely rescued the people trapped in the chairlift at a height of 600 feet,” it said, referring to the ‘Sling’ aerial operations where large loads are moved in geographically difficult terrains.
“An extremely difficult and complicated operation has been successfully completed by the Pakistan military,” the ISPR said. “All stranded persons were safely evacuated and moved to a safe place.”
The operation was led by the general officer commanding (GOC) of the SSG. The ISPR said that the civil administration and locals also actively came forward to join the rescue.
According to Bilal Faizi, the representative of the emergency service Rescue 1122, the rescue operation was successfully concluded. “The two adults were the last to be rescued,” he said. “The children aged between 10 and 15.”
Gratitude and relief
Soon after the successful completion of the rescue mission, political leaders started heaping praise on the army’s rescue officials, locals, and authorities involved in the risky operation.
President Arif Alvi praised army personnel, local rescuers and entire administration for “showing commitment and bravery”.