J&K: All stranded tourists rescued safely from Gulmarg gondola
Srinagar, May 25
All tourists stranded in J&K's Gulmarg cable car cabins were brought to safety by rescue teams, officials said on Monday.
J&K L-G Manoj Sinha said on X, "I'm monitoring the rescue operation for tourists stranded in cable car cabins following a technical fault in Gulmarg. I have directed the DGP to proceed to the site. A joint rescue team of Police, Army, SDRF, DC, and SSP is conducting the operation to ensure the safety of all tourists."
Scores of tourists were left stranded mid-air when a technical malfunction halted both phases of the famous Gulmarg Gondola in J&K, causing widespread panic.
Fortunately, joint rescue teams comprising the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local police launched a massive evacuation operation, bringing all trapped passengers to safety without any reported injuries.
The high-altitude resort witnessed panic after a sudden system glitch or suspected overload brought Asia's highest cable car to an abrupt stop.
Authorities, including J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, reassured the public that all gondola cabins were intact and specialised teams had been dispatched to safely evacuate stranded visitors.
Managing Director, Cable Car Corporation, Syed Qamar Sajjad, said there was no major issue and that it was only a technical glitch.
He added that four specialised cable car rescue teams were engaged in the operation, while Army, police, and SDRF personnel also assisted at the site.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier said that the government was closely monitoring the situation at the Gulmarg Gondola and that all necessary measures had been taken to ensure the safe evacuation of tourists.
Scores of tourists trapped mid-air were successfully rescued after the Gulmarg Gondola abruptly halted due to a technical snag.
Emergency teams from the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local police launched a joint operation, bringing all passengers down safely without any injuries being reported.
The famous Gulmarg Gondola experienced a technical malfunction, bringing cars on both phases to a sudden stop.
Nearly 300 tourists were left dangling in the cabins, causing panic, especially among families with women and children. Emergency evacuation protocols were immediately activated.
Joint rescue teams were rapidly deployed and successfully retrieved the stranded passengers.
Officials confirmed that the situation was swiftly brought under control and that operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Imagine being stuck up there with your family, especially women and children... must have been terrifying! But the way our rescue teams acted so quickly shows the efficiency we have in place. Kudos to LG Manoj Sinha for personally monitoring it. However, I wish the cable car management had done preventive checks before peak tourist season—this could have been avoided.
Another day saved by our jawans! 🇮🇳 The coordination between Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local police is commendable. But let's be honest—Gulmarg gondola is a world-class attraction, and such technical glitches shouldn't happen in the first place. The cable car corporation should immediately audit the entire system and ensure robust maintenance protocols. Tourists' lives are precious.
As someone who visited Gulmarg last winter, this is really scary. The views are spectacular but safety must come first. Glad everyone is safe and that emergency protocols worked. The authorities should install backup power or manual winches for such situations. Also, tourists should be trained on basic safety steps before boarding gondolas in remote areas.
Big relief for all families! 🙌 But this raises serious questions about maintenance standards. The "technical glitch" explanation is vague—was it a power surge, mechanical failure, or overload? We need transparency. Also, CM Omar Abdullah's quick assurance is appreciated, but let's ensure such incidents don't become routine. Tourism in J&K is already struggling; this could scare visitors away.
R Rahul R Hats off to the We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.