A documentary film based on the dramatic 2023 Battagram chairlift rescue operation will be released in cinemas across Pakistan later this year.
Titled Hanging by a Wire, the documentary highlights the challenges faced by residents of the Allai Valley, including poor infrastructure, while portraying the courage and determination of local people who played a key role in the rescue operation.
Producer, director and writer M. Ali Naqvi said the film aims to showcase the bravery of local residents to an international audience. He said the rescue was an extraordinary effort involving the Pakistan Army, local residents and the administration, who worked together to save eight people trapped in a chairlift.
Naqvi said the filmmakers also wanted to draw attention to the difficult conditions faced by children who rely on chairlifts to travel to schools. The documentary seeks to encourage initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure in the area and supporting projects in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
According to the filmmakers, the documentary features original footage recorded during the rescue operation, including drone footage captured by a local resident. Local people also provided footage of the incident, hoping their experiences, struggles and efforts would reach a wider audience.
Producer and writer Bilal Sami said stories highlighting local Pakistani heroes rarely receive international attention. He said the documentary was produced to bring the courage of these individuals to the world and present a positive image of Pakistan.
Hanging by a Wire is currently being screened in cinemas in the United Kingdom and the United States. The documentary has also been selected for the Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive feedback from audiences.
The Battagram chairlift incident occurred on August 23, 2023, when eight people became trapped around 900 feet above the ground after two of the lift’s three cables snapped, leaving the chairlift suspended by a single cable.
Pakistan Army personnel rescued one person by helicopter, while zipline experts Ali Swati and Sahib Khan were brought in to help rescue the remaining seven people. After an operation lasting around 12 hours, all eight individuals were safely evacuated.
Despite the successful rescue, residents say infrastructure in the area remains inadequate and that chairlift systems continue to operate under poor conditions.
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