Four drowned as chairlift plunges in River Indus in Kohistan

PESHAWAR: Four people were killed on Friday as a chairlift plunged into the Indus River near Sammar Nallah area in district Upper Kohistan.

The deceased were crossing the river from Shitial to Tangir area of Gilgit-Baltistan, when the string holding the chairlift broke into two pieces, plunging them into the fast flowing river.

Deputy commissioner Upper Kohistan Muhammad Asif confirmed that the dead are from Tangir area. He said that divers are busy in fishing out the drowned persons, but their chances of survival are dim as the river is in full swing due to melting of snow in the catchment areas

The Kohistan police have lodged an FIR and started investigation to ascertain the exact cause behind the incident.

Locals said the chairlift across the River Indus is the only means of transporting people between Kohistan and Tangir.