Chairlift scare in Torghar prompts authorities to halt operations

MANSEHRA: The administration of Torghar district on Saturday suspended travel through chairlifts after nine people were left dangling about 250 feet in the air over the Indus River for several hours when a supporting cable of a rope-tow broke a day earlier.

“We have rescued nine people, including a woman and a minor boy, who remained stranded mid-air for over four hours,” Deputy Superintendent of Police, Judbah, Sardar Javed told reporters.

The indigenously developed chairlift, installed over the Indus River, was travelling towards Bair village in Shangla district from the Kotli Nusratkhel area of Judbah, the district headquarters of Torghar, when one of its two supporting cables suddenly broke.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 7pm due to overloading, as nine people and a motorbike were aboard.

The police and Rescue 1122 personnel as well as local volunteers managed to rescue them at about 11pm.

“The chairlift (locally known as Doli) was smoothly covering the distance when it jerked suddenly and one of its cables broke, leaving us dangling mid-air over the deadly Indus River,” Zahid Khan, one of the stranded passengers, told reporters. He added that except for the woman and child, the rest of the passengers were returning home after closing their shops when the accident happened.

Following the successful rescue operation, led by Deputy Commissioner Torghar Safdar Azam Qurashi, local medics and Rescue 1122 personnel provided medical aid to all passengers. The deputy commissioner subsequently suspended all chairlift operations and constituted inspection committees.

“To ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incidents, the operation of all chairlifts within the jurisdiction of Torghar district is hereby suspended with immediate effect. Committees at the tehsil level have been formed to inspect them,” read a notification issued by the DC.

Each five-member committee will consist of the assistant commissioner, tehsil municipal officer, sub-divisional officer of the Communication and Works Department, and two representatives from Rescue 1122 and the police department.

“No chairlift will be allowed to resume operations without a clearance certificate issued by the district administration,” the notification further stated.