The improvised chairlift – locally called Ga’raari – was built after the 2010 epic floods had swept away the lone bridge which connected Gaise Valley with the strategic Karakoram Highway.
“The chairlift was overloaded. It crashed into the river after the metallic rope it was mounted on snapped,” Basharat Khan, a resident of Gaise Valley told The Express Tribune. “All eight people on board drowned in the river,” he added.
Police confirmed the fatalities and said a Rescue 1122 team was trying to fish out the bodies.
Ga’raari was dangerously suspended by a 100-metre rope over the Indus River. Locals had complained umpteen times about the dilapidated state of the device and demanded that the bridge be rebuilt.
Then prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, had also ordered the authorities to rebuild the bridge – but his directives had fallen on deaf ears.
Three officials, among them executive engineer Muhammad Gayoor, have been suspended for negligence, said Bashir Ahmed, the G-B minister for works who is a resident of Daimer district, of which Gaise is a part.
“We have ordered an inquiry,” he told a news conference after the tragedy. “The chairlift could carry only four persons. And it crashed because it was overloaded.”
About the damaged bridge, Ahmed said it would be completed soon as 80% of work has been done.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
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As usual, the politicians are shifting the blame on the bureaucrats. The "kaal chakra" has been set in motion, yet again. Shame on the elected representatives. Shame on the bureaucracy.
Very Sad news. Innocent people who do not even have basic amenities had to pay with their lives to get things noticed. However, just curious, why PM had to get involved, what happened to local government, municipal or regional/provincial. Local roads, sidewalks/footpaths, bridges are generally not responsibly of federal government. When can we have a strong local body system where they can collect their own taxes and spend them locally in the areas from where they are collected.
Dont worry my dear nation, your PM is there to solve your problems. look, the poor PM has just landed on the holy land to pray for you. What else can he do? Dont grudge now the expenditure etc,( with witch a bridge could be made where the chairlift broke ) after all he has gone to pray for you.
The casual approach toward life leads to such fatalities. As a nation we are not interested in our lives, do not enjoy moments of the life, but running for more & more.
i feel so guilty reading this! I was just thinking of such chair lifts before this post got posted...as to how unsafe they can be ... I hope it wasnt a jinx. RIP all people who died and may Allah give their families faith and patience.