Gulmarg: A technical snag in the cable car service at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, left hundreds of tourists stranded in gondolas several feet above the ground on Monday.
Rescue operations have been launched by The Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
According to an official, a technical issue led to the incident. Efforts are on to rectify the glitch.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to X and said that he was aware of the incident and was monitoring it.
“Government is closely monitoring the situation at the Gulmarg Gondola after the cable car service was temporarily halted due to a technical fault. All cabins remain intact, and rescue operations to safely evacuate stranded tourists are underway with trained teams on the ground,” Abdullah posted.
“The situation is completely under control, and there is no cause for panic,” he further added.
The Indian Army’s Northern Command also shared a video of the rescue operations in the evening. “Large Scale Rescue Operations at Gulmarg Gondola by trained teams in progress,” it posted.
“Swind coordinated rescue efforts by Chinar Corps, Indian Army and Gulmarg Gondola operators are underway after ropeway cabins got stranded mid-air,” it added.
“65 cabins were stranded, and till now 80 passengers from 16 cabins have been already rescued. Rescue operations for the remaining cabins are in progress,” the post stated.
Troops from the Army’s Special Forces and the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) are are also participating in the operations.
The Gulbarg Gondola is the country’s largest cable-car service. The operations of both phases had to be suspended after the snag.
