Unsafe travels: Three drown as chairlift snaps, falls in River Swat

Dozens of cable cars were installed across the river after the 2010 floods washed away all bridges.

BAHRAIN: Three people drowned in River Swat after a steel rope carrying a cable car snapped in Tanazgah, Laikot area of Bahrain tehsil on Monday.

According to the Bahrain police, five-year-old Marjan, two-year-old Luqman and their father, Raham Zeb, were crossing the river via a manual cable car when the accident occurred. The three are still missing and authorities and residents are actively searching to recover them.



“They were guests and had moved from Mingora to Bahrain for the summers,” said Ahmad Zeb, a resident of Laikot, adding “Unfortunately, when they reached the middle of the ride, the rope broke and they drowned.”

Dozens of chairlifts were installed by residents after the July 2010 floods washed away all bridges and left thousands living across the river stranded. No major bridge was constructed, due to which people were compelled to use chairlifts. During the last three months, more than 10 chairlifts have fallen apart.

“We have asked the government to construct hanging bridges that are relatively cheaper, but no one paid heed to our requests,” said Itabar Ali, a resident of Bahrain.

Residents demanded the government construct bridges for all villages across the rivers so travel can become safer.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2013.