Snow-stranded horsemen rescued

BALAKOT:

Three horsemen, who had been stranded at Siri Paye due to heavy snowfall two days ago, were successfully rescued during a major operation on Sunday.

The men — Wajid, Faizan and Ali, residents of Ghanool — had become trapped on a snow-covered mountain approximately six feet high following severe snowfall in the area.

According to rescue officials, joint teams comprising Rescue 1122, the Tourism Police, the QRF Squad, the district police, rescue services and local volunteers carried out the operation, which lasted around 16 hours. Despite harsh weather conditions and extremely difficult terrain, the teams reached Siri Paye after an arduous eight-hour trek on foot.

Showing remarkable perseverance and professionalism, the rescue teams successfully located the stranded individuals and safely evacuated them from Siri Paye to Shogran.

The three rescued youths are local residents who earn their livelihood by providing horse-riding services to tourists at Siri Paye.

According to rescue officials, the three local horsemen had become stranded at Siri Paye after heavy snowfall blanketed the area with up to six feet of snow, forcing them to seek shelter in a temporary refuge.

The rescued men are local residents who earn their livelihood by providing horse-riding services to tourists at Siri Paye. Contact with their families had been severed due to the extreme snowfall.