In a heart-pounding 16-hour-long rescue operation, marked by tension and suspense, six children and two adults were successfully saved from a precarious situation. The group had been trapped in a cable car suspended 900 feet (274 meters) above a ravine, in the challenging mountainous region of Battagram, within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
These children had been relying on this perilous cable car route as their daily means of reaching school. While undeniably hazardous, the lack of available infrastructure left them with no alternative. This situation reflects shortcomings on two critical levels: the absence of educational institutions in the remote areas from which these children journey, and the dearth of affordable transportation options for their commute. Opting to walk would consume two hours of their time, whereas the locally known “Dolly,” a cable car system, shortens the journey to a mere 4 minutes.
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According to a report by the BBC, a local resident named Mohabbat Shah emphasized the limited travel options. A ride on the Dolly costs Rs 10 per person one way (equivalent to £0.053), while hiring a cab for the same route would amount to Rs 2000 (£18.91).
The initiative for the Dolly system was taken by the local residents, who sought permission from the relevant authorities overseeing the city’s affairs. The Dolly facilitates travel between the village of Jangri and Batangi, where the school is situated.
Crafted primarily from repurposed materials, such as components from pickup trucks and motorcycles, the cable car showcases resourcefulness. The main structure is then suspended from a cable line.
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In light of the permission granted and the locals’ resourceful efforts, a pivotal question arises: who bears responsibility for the government’s inability to furnish the same essential services to its citizens, as well as for overseeing the maintenance of such facilities? Perhaps, with a responsible entity in place, the weak points could have been identified, potentially averting this catastrophe.
The provincial government emerges as the accountable party in this context. The absence of schools across various regions begs explanation. Furthermore, during the years under PTI governance, the lack of investment in safer transportation alternatives, such as the Dolly, along with inadequate quality control, regular maintenance, and repair protocols, raises concerns. Should Pervez Khattak, the former Chief Minister of KP, step forward to address these issues on behalf of PTI?
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The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9
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