BATTAGRAM: KP Police have arrested two persons in of Allai tehsil of Battagram district from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday in connection to the cable car incident that left eight people stuck in the dangling vehicle for 14 hours before finally being rescued yesterday.
The incident sparked nationwide panic over the trapped individuals in the cable car. It received widespread TV coverage, showing the military leading the rescue with other authorities. Locals also joined the effort to assist in the passenger rescue.
The incident had occurred on Tuesday morning when six students and two locals were commuting on it.
They got stuck when two wires of the cable car snapped, a local of offical of district administration said while ta;lking to media person. The cable car was privately run by locals for transportation across rivers as there were no roads or bridges in the area, he added.
The cable car remained dangling in the middle of a deep ravine surrounded by towering mountains and a rocky surface along with the Jhangri river for hours.
After around 14 hours, the successful completion of the rescue operation was first confirmed in a statement issued by Rescue 1122 and later by the military’s media affairs wing.
In the latest development today, the Allai police apprehended both the cable car owner, Malik Gulzarin, and the operator, Ejaz. A first information report (FIR) has been lodged in connection with the incident.
According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the case was registered under sections 279 (rash driving or driving on a public way), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 290 (punishment for public nuisance), 427 and 337H(2).
At approximately 7:50 am on Tuesday, the police received a report about a cable car becoming stranded in the Bala area. Subsequently, police teams, including senior officers, arrived at the scene, the FIR reads.
As per the details outlined in the FIR, the incident was attributed to the “negligence and carelessness” of both the cable car owner and operator.
Furthermore, the FIR noted that substandard rope had been employed for the cable car, with no alternatives available. “This reckless choice was deemed a perilous attempt that endangered the lives of passengers involved.”
The report also mentioned that the chairlift operators had been instructed beforehand to provide a fitness certificate for the cable to a nearby police station, but they neglected to do so.
“This negligence endangered the lives of eight people, causing them emotional distress and resulting in a loss for the government,” the FIR added.
Read more: ECP decides to consult political parties, including PTI, for elections schedule
