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The truth behind Pakistan’s homemade cable car system

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A harrowing incident involving eight people, including children, left them stranded in a cable car precariously suspended above a ravine in Pakistan’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

For many, the footage of the chair lift hanging 274 meters (900 feet) above the ground is the stuff of nightmares. However, makeshift cable cars are a common sight in eastern Mansehra and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, extending to Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the north.

In regions lacking infrastructure and with vast distances between essential amenities like schools, these cable cars, often hastily assembled with scrap metal, are born out of necessity. Local communities, driven by the absence of alternatives and the cost-effectiveness, build them – often illegally.

Improvised cable cars

These improvised contraptions take various forms. Some are crafted from the upper portion of a pickup truck, with vehicles like Suzukis converted into large cabins for transporting people and livestock. Ropes connect them to the cable, which may also consist of scrap iron.

While undeniably perilous, these cable cars serve a crucial purpose. They are used to traverse rivers and reduce travel time between valleys in mountainous terrain. In Allai, the region where the recent incident occurred, there is no road infrastructure or basic facilities.

Consequently, a local resident received permission from the city administration to construct the cable car, as confirmed by the police to BBC News. Locals refer to it as “Dolly,” connecting the village of Jangri to Batangi, where the local school is situated.

This cable car drastically cuts travel time. What would ordinarily entail a two-hour walk can now be accomplished in just four minutes by using the cable car.

Significant costs

Beyond convenience, affordability is a key factor contributing to the popularity of the Allai cable car. It is significantly cheaper than road travel, with fares starting as low as 20 PKR (£0.053; $0.067), varying according to the distance covered.

According to local resident Mohabbat Shah, people are willing to take the risk with these cable cars. As long as there have been no issues with a particular cable car before, it remains a viable transportation option for people navigating the region. He explained that a one-way trip costs only 10 rupees per person, while booking a cab for the same journey could cost up to 2000 rupees (£18.91; $24.09).

While this particular cable car has not faced any challenges to date, others across Pakistan have experienced accidents. In 2017, an illegal cable car crashed in Murree, Punjab, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 passengers as it plunged into a ravine. Last December, local media reported a rope snapping incident in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 12 children had to be rescued while en route to school, leaving them stranded 61 meters over a river.

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LIVE: U.S. bombs Iranian nuclear sites

Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three Iranian nuclear sites.

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Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three Iranian nuclear sites.


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President Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three nuclear sites in Iran.

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Trump confirms U.S. strikes on Iran as Israel targets top Iranian leaders

Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.

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Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.


President Trump has confirmed that U.S. forces successfully struck three nuclear facilities in Iran – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – with all aircraft safely exiting Iranian airspace. The mission, involving B-2 stealth bombers, comes amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its military operations, killing three top Iranian military leaders and striking a major nuclear facility in Isfahan. The Israeli chief of staff warned the operation may lead to a prolonged and complex war.

Iran responded by vowing to continue uranium enrichment and said talks with the U.S. are off the table unless Israel halts its attacks. In a parallel move, Houthi militants threatened U.S. and commercial ships in the Red Sea if American strikes continue in support of Israel.

Adding to the volatility, an Iranian drone hit northern Israel, with the IDF confirming the incident—though no casualties were reported. The U.S. State Department is now organising flights to evacuate Americans from Israel.

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Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites

Trump announces successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iranian leadership.

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Trump announces successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iranian leadership.

In Short:
President Trump announced U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, confirming all aircraft left Iranian airspace after the operation. Meanwhile, Israel ramped up its military actions against Iran, leading to warnings from Iranian officials and Houthi militants regarding potential escalations.

President Trump announced on Saturday that the United States had successfully completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

In a social media post, he confirmed all U.S. aircraft had exited Iranian airspace following the operation.

This military action was preceded by the deployment of stealth B-2 bombers from Missouri, capable of carrying the GBU-57 bunker buster, a powerful weapon considered effective against the Fordow uranium-enrichment facility.

Trump had earlier indicated to senior aides that he approved attack plans for Iran, awaiting Tehran’s decision on its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military intensified its operations against Iranian military leaders and nuclear sites, announcing the elimination of three senior Iranian figures and strikes on the Isfahan facility. Israel’s military chief warned of a potentially prolonged conflict, describing it as the nation’s most complex military undertaking.

In response, Iranian officials stated their refusal to halt uranium enrichment and indicated that negotiations with the U.S. would only occur if Israel ceased its attacks.

Additionally, the U.S. State Department announced the initiation of flights to facilitate the return of American citizens from Israel.

Houthi militants also issued a warning to target U.S. and commercial vessels in the Red Sea should American attacks in support of Israel commence.

Amidst this, an Iranian drone attack recently damaged a building in northern Israel, marking an acknowledged drone strike by the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict. No casualties were reported from the incident.

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