Owner and operator of stranded chairlift arrested

Sealing of chairlifts in Balakot leaves villages stranded without river crossings

BALAKOT:

The owner and operator of a chairlift that became stranded amidst high winds above a ravine in Battagram have been arrested, according to a local police officer's statement on Wednesday. Mohammad Sheraz Khan, a district police station officer, confirmed that both men were apprehended after the rescue of the stranded children, although he did not provide specific details regarding the charges.

Tahir Ayub, the Deputy Inspector General of Hazara Division, informed the media that the incident resulted from a cable break. Consequently, a case was filed against the chairlift's owner, Gulzarain, and the operator, Ejaz.

Prior to this incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Battagram had issued a notice to all chairlift operators mandating reports on the fitness, maintenance, and safety protocols of their lifts. The chairlift owner has not yet responded to the notice issued by the Deputy Commissioner about a month prior.

Addressing the possibility of restoring the lift service, the Deputy Commissioner stated that the district government would only allow the chairlift service to resume after ensuring proper repair and safety measures.

Chairlifts serve as vital transportation means in hilly regions, and while an outright ban isn't feasible, the government intends to impose conditions on their operation, noted the DIG.

Rescuers successfully saved all eight individuals aboard the stranded chairlift on Tuesday evening after they spent over 15 hours precariously suspended due to a snapped cable.

Read also: Chairlift mishap

In response to the incident, numerous chairlifts connecting various hilly areas in Balakot have been temporarily sealed. This action has resulted in the isolation of multiple villages, leaving residents without an alternative means of crossing the river. The assistant commissioner of Balakot directed these measures.

As a consequence of the chairlift closures, the Paror community in Balakot is facing hardships, including food shortages and students being unable to attend school due to severed transport routes.

Munir Hussain Shah, the former nazim of Bela Sacha Paror, emphasized the perilous nature of chairlift journeys and recalled a prior incident where three individuals were trapped. Shah revealed that approval for a bridge in Paror was granted two years ago, yet construction has not commenced.

Frustrated residents are urging swift government intervention to construct the promised bridge and reopen the sealed chairlift, ensuring the community's welfare.

Additionally, as a precautionary measure, several chairlifts in Balakot and other tourist spots within the Tehsil have also been sealed.

These developments underscore the challenges of balancing transportation needs, safety concerns, and community well-being in hilly regions reliant on chairlifts for connectivity.