Eight people were rescued from the cable car on Tuesday.Photo:PRATEEK KUMAR/AFP via Getty Images
PRATEEK KUMAR/AFP via Getty Images
A drone has captured incredible close-up footage of the eight people leftstranded in a danging cable carin Pakistan.
All eight people, including six children, were saved on Tuesday after a lengthyrescue operation, authorities in Pakistan said, per multiple outlets including theAssociated Press,CNNandThe New York Times.
In the video, the group can be seen clutching onto the insides of the cable car above a valley, which is near the city of Battagram.
The incident happened when one of the car’s cables snapped and left the group stranded in the air for around 14 hours, perCNN.
Osama Sharif, 15, who was among the group, called their rescue amiracle. “I saw a miraculous rescue happening with my own eyes," he told theAssociated Press. “We suddenly felt a jolt. It all happened so suddenly that we thought all of us are going to die."
The group was on their way to school when the cable broke.
According to headmaster Ali Asghar Khan, who said the children are students at his government high school, viaAFP, “the school is located in a mountainous area and there are no safe crossings, so it’s common to use the chairlift.”
The cable car was dangling 900 feet over a ravine in Pakistan.AP Photo
AP Photo
According toThe Guardian, rescuers also used the one remaining working cable as a zip line to rescue three children after high winds affected rescue efforts with helicopters. The authorities were also forced to stop using helicopters when night fell.
PerCNN, video footage also appeared to show one child holding onto the end of a rope as they jumped from the cable car and were flown to safety.
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In a follow-up tweet he added, “In the heart of #Battagram, our heroes rose to the challenge. Our military, administration and local champions, hand in hand, defied danger to write a new chapter of valor. They rescued 8 young souls, proving once more the strength of our unity. Our nation’s spirit shines brightest today. Proud of our heroes!”
source: people.com
