IN the rugged terrain of Allai tehsil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Battagram, a group of eight passengers found themselves in a dire situation, trapped inside a cable car since early Tuesday morning. As the hours passed and hope seemed to dwindle, a shining beacon of heroism emerged in the form of the country’s valiant Defence Forces – the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force. Their meticulously executed operation spanned over 14 arduous hours, culminated in a triumphant rescue, showcasing their unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, regardless of the circumstances.
The Defence Forces have consistently proven themselves as the nation’s shield against a myriad of challenges, be it combating terrorism, responding to natural disasters or undertaking humanitarian missions. This recent incident is a testament to their steadfast dedication, where they seamlessly extended their expertise from counter-terrorism operations to intricate search and rescue missions. The heart of the matter lies in the fact that their dedication often extends far beyond their call of duty. They embrace their role as the nation’s saviours wholeheartedly, placing their lives on the line to safeguard others. Their readiness to tackle any challenge, whether man-made or natural, underscores their role as the pillars of resilience that support Pakistan’s progress and development. The heroic rescue operation in Allai also brings to light the need for proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Makeshift cable cars are widely used in KPK, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Though dangerous, people often use them to cross rivers and to shorten the distance needed to travel between valleys in the mountains. In Allai – the mountainous area where the group were trapped on Tuesday – there is no road infrastructure or basic facilities. Known to locals as “Dolly”, it links the village of Jangri to Batangi, where the local school is located. What would usually be a two-hour walk was reduced to just four minutes in the cable car. Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s directive for safety inspections on all private chairlifts is a step in the right direction but simultaneously there is a need to build new and safe infrastructure in these picturesque places to address the problems of the local people.
