The armed forces conducted a rescue exercise on Friday afternoon after two passengers were trapped in a cable car at Simtal while descending from Sarangkot to Sedi.
What you should know
The Armed Police Force has conducted a rescue exercise at the cable car in Sarangkot, Pokhara Metropolitan City-18.
The Armed Police Force, Nepal's 24th Kalika Battalion, organized a team from Kurintar to safely rescue passengers who get stuck when a cable car suddenly stops. On Friday afternoon, the armed forces had rescued two passengers from a cable car at Simatal while descending from Sarangkot to Sedi.
The Armed Police Force, which is active in rescue operations in disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, fires and floods, has said that it has practiced on a cable car for the first time. The Armed Forces have stated that the rescue exercise was conducted as the number of cable cars is increasing in various places including Pokhara in Nepal.
At the rescue exercise program, Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said that preparation is very necessary to reduce potential risks in structures such as cable cars, which have become the mainstay of tourism. 'We say that there should be preparation for disasters, but preparation is not complete,' he said, 'Accidents can occur depending on the geography.' Therefore, regular exercises and coordination are necessary.' Stating that the Nepal Police works closely with the people, Mayor Acharya said that the Armed Police Force is capable of disaster relief. Stating that disaster relief is possible only through coordination and cooperation, he said that the manpower is low. According to the Armed Police Force, there has been no human loss in the cable car tower so far.
DIG Dipendra Shah of the Armed Police Force Muktinath Bahini No. 4 and the provincial chief said that the provincial government's support is needed to increase resources, means and manpower in disaster relief.
At the program, Surya Prasad Timilsina, the commander of the 24th Battalion of the Armed Forces, said that such rescue exercises have become necessary as the construction of cable cars is increasing rapidly in Nepal. 'This is a daring and risky rescue,' he said, 'modern equipment, coordination and communication are required with human safety at the center.'
The Annapurna Cable Car, which has 38 cabins, has a capacity of 8 people in each cabin and 11 towers are used. At the program, Chief District Officer Rudra Devi Sharma said that only through regular practice, along with special skills, equipment, and preparation, can human losses be minimized in rescue operations.
