A man lost his life after falling from a chairlift over the Indus River in the Taraiz Banda area of Lower Kohistan on Thursday. The incident occurred when the locally used chairlift, known as a doli, reportedly developed a technical fault.
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According to Rescue 1122 officials, the victim had first helped his son disembark safely from the chairlift. Moments later, the system suddenly started moving backwards, causing him to lose balance and fall hundreds of feet onto the rocky riverside below.
Malik Sharif, an official of Rescue 1122, said the chairlift is commonly used by local residents to transport both people and goods across the Indus River in the Jalkot area. He added that mechanical issues are suspected to have triggered the fatal accident.
Following the fall, local residents rushed to the scene and assisted rescue personnel in recovering the body. The deceased, identified as 42-year-old Abdul Wakeel, was shifted to a nearby hospital.
Hospital authorities completed the necessary legal formalities before handing over the body to the victim’s family. The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of makeshift chairlifts used in remote mountainous regions.
Such chairlifts remain a vital mode of transportation for communities living in isolated areas, despite recurring safety risks. Residents have repeatedly called for improved infrastructure and safer alternatives to prevent similar tragedies.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man was shot dead in Torghar district on the same day. Police said unidentified assailants opened fire on Mohammad Sajid, a resident of Oghi, killing him on the spot.
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Locals shifted the body to a nearby health facility, where doctors conducted a postmortem examination. After completion of medico-legal procedures, the body was handed over to the family as police began investigations into the killing.