ISLAMABAD: In what appeared to be a suicide attempt, a man climbed an electricity pylon and sat there before being rescued by city officials.
Police and rescue personnel who reached the site — near a fuel station in Sector F-6/1 of the federal capital — said the reason behind the man’s action had not been ascertained as he was not communicating, adding that he had a mobile phone with him.
Passersby at the site were calling out to the man atop the pylon while efforts were being made to save him in case he jumps.
Later, rescue officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) managed to dislodge the man by using a crane and transported him to an undisclosed location in an ambulance.
Investigations are under way to determine the cause of the man’s ascent, after which appropriate action will be taken, CDA officials said.
A similar incident occurred in Lahore on July 16, 2017 when a rickshaw driver had climbed an electricity pole early morning in an attempt to commit suicide.
The rickshaw driver threw a note stating that he was unjustly fined Rs1,750 by the city traffic officials which had resulted in him being unable to afford the medical expenses of his family, who were in hospital. He said he would take his own life as he ‘had nowhere else to go’.
Following hectic negotiations which lasted almost two hours, Rescue 1122 officials were able to convince him to come down. A crane was used to bring the man down. Lahore Electric Supply Company officials also suspended electricity in the area to ensure the person does not get electrocuted in the event of a fall.
After his descent, the rickshaw driver told the media he belongs to Jhang and was aided by a friend to climb to the top, who had since disappeared. The man was later taken away by the police.
