Story of ex-soldier saving Chinese engineers in Hunza River

Faiz Muhammad, an ex-soldier from Mari city of Mianwali city of Punjab province, saved 26 people including 10 Chinese engineers from drowning in Hunza river several decades ago.

In a special conversation with Independent Urdu, Haji Faiz Muhammad said that in 1976, when the Karakoram Highway was being constructed under the supervision of Pakistani forces and Chinese experts, the Pakistani army laid iron ropes across the Hunza River in a village called Gulmat to cross the river. And with the help of motor boats, a temporary bridge (raft) was constructed, over which local people and vehicles could cross.

He says that the river bed in this area was very wide, so the immediate construction of the bridge was not possible at this point. Iron boats were built on the same raft with a truck on top. Several people were sitting on top of the goods on this truck when suddenly a sound was heard and after that shouting started. The broken iron wire had loosened the boats tied together and the temporary bridge was slowly drifting across the river.

According to Haji Faiz Muhammad: ‘The people sitting on top of the truck, including Pakistani army men and Chinese engineers, as well as local people, were screaming in panic and confusion. There was chaos everywhere. People were calling for help.’

‘At that time my duty was that of a rescue operator. I received orders that you should arrive immediately. I started the small boat and immediately reached and started rescuing people.’

According to Haji Faiz: ‘First I rescued the drowning Chinese engineers and after that I started rescuing the local people. Meanwhile, the water level began to rise as more water came in. What we did at that time was to save the person who was drowning first. I used to get on the boat and put the drowning people in the boat and come to the shore and then quickly go back.’

‘The locals were watching this dangerous phase with bated breath. The work of pulling out of the river and bringing it to the shore continued. Some people even disappeared in the water, while the floating heads of others were visible to people standing on the shore. Despite the rapid flow of the river, the tilted truck did not overturn completely, but continued to flow.’

“Finally, an elderly woman on the truck, who was clinging tightly to the truck, was also safely taken to the river bank in a small boat about two kilometers south of the accident site.”

He said that ‘After this incident, in recognition of my services, I was awarded the Military Service Medal and the Basalt Medal. I am still remembered by the people of Hunza for this incident and the Government of Pakistan also gave me 12 and a half acres of land in Khanewal as a reward. The Chinese government also appreciated my services.’

Haji Faiz Muhammad is now living his life in a quiet town like Mari city.