The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has issued detailed directions for the inspection and improvement of safety procedures for cable cars throughout the province in response to the recent Battagram chairlift disaster.
Govt orders inspection all chairlifts: In Pakistan’s Battagram, a broken-down cable car imprisoned eight people, including youngsters, high above a valley. On Tuesday, military commandos executed a risky and delicate rescue using helicopters and a makeshift chairlift.
All of the schoolchildren and teachers trapped in the chairlift in Battagram were safely rescued by Pakistan Army Aviation officers, Special Service Group (SSG) commandos, and locals.
The acting chief minister has ordered deputy commissioners from each district to conduct extensive chairlift inspections in their respective districts. In addition to those in entertainment venues, chairlifts also run in commercial and residential areas.
The provincial government has also stressed the need for immediate chairlift inspections at entertainment venues to make sure that safety regulations are strictly followed.
The regulation also covers inspecting the capacity, safety features, and design of every chairlift in the province.
The provincial government has established a requirement for acquiring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the district administration. This mandatory step aims to enhance the effective regulation of chairlift operations. The objective is to ensure the proper functioning and oversight of chairlifts within the province.
The provincial government has set a specific deadline for the submission of a comprehensive report. This report pertains to the assessment of chairlifts located throughout the province. The completion of this report within the stipulated timeframe is required.
The ruling stated that within a week, the government must receive a compilation of all pertinent data and findings.
Battagram incident
Six young children boarded the gondola to travel to school, which marked the start of the day’s ordeal. There were two adults with them. The car then came to a stop as a rope snapped, holding the group in midair. Hundreds of metres (feet) above a desolate, mountainous terrain, they were powerless.
Additionally, The cable car, affectionately referred to as “Dolly” by locals, connects the settlement of Jangri with Batangi, the location of the school.
The flying rescue attempt was called off after saving two kids because to bad weather and nighttime visibility. Further, After the fourth effort to transport the kids, they were saved. A local expert in cable crossing from the Northern regions was also brought by the Pakistani Army. Furthermore, The cable crossing specialist will help the rescuers as well.