“Hanging by a Wire”: Documentary on Battagram chairlift rescue to release in Pakistan this year

A documentary film based on the dramatic Battagram chairlift rescue operation is set to be released in cinemas across Pakistan later this year.

Titled “Hanging by a Wire,” the documentary highlights the underdevelopment and poor infrastructure of the Allai Valley, while portraying the courage and bravery of local residents who played a crucial role in the rescue operation.

Speaking to Geo News, producer, director and writer Mohammad Ali Naqvi (Mo Naqvi) said he wanted to showcase the courage and resilience of the local people to an international audience through the story.

He said it was an unprecedented situation in which the Pakistan Army, local residents and the administration worked together to save the lives of eight people trapped in a chairlift.

“Although the area is underdeveloped, the skill and determination with which local residents carried out the rescue operation deserves immense appreciation,” Naqvi said.

Mohammad Ali Naqvi added that the aim of taking the documentary to an international audience was to allow the world to witness the courage and bravery of Pakistanis.

He said the filmmakers also hoped to help improve the chairlift system used by children who travel to school every day. Through the documentary, they are seeking to collaborate with NGOs on projects aimed at improving infrastructure in the region.

Discussing the making of the documentary, Mo Naqvi said that all the footage featured in the film is original. He explained that the drone footage was recorded by a local jewellery shop owner named Faisal, while other local residents also provided footage they had recorded during the incident.

According to Naqvi, the residents wanted their voices, helplessness and efforts during the rescue operation to reach a wider audience.

Producer and writer Bilal Sami told Geo Digital that stories about local Pakistani heroes often fail to receive international attention. He said that he and Mo Naqvi wanted to tell this story so that the world could learn about the individuals who represent the positive side of Pakistan.

“Hanging by a Wire” is currently being screened in cinemas in the United Kingdom and the United States. The documentary also secured a place at the Sundance Film Festival, where the story received considerable appreciation from audiences. The film is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release in Pakistan this year.

Battagram Chairlift incident

On August 23, 2023, a harrowing incident occurred in Battagram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two cables of a chairlift carrying eight people suddenly snapped, leaving the lift suspended approximately 900 feet above the ground by a single cable.

Pakistan Army personnel managed to rescue one person by helicopter. However, zipline experts Ali Swati and Sahib Khan were called in to help rescue the remaining seven passengers.

After approximately 12 hours, all eight individuals were safely rescued, bringing the operation to a successful conclusion.

However, according to local residents, the incident has not resulted in significant improvements to the infrastructure in Battagram. They say the chairlift system remains in poor condition and continues to pose serious safety concerns.