Srinagar, May 25: A major rescue and evacuation operation was launched at the famous Gulmarg Gondola in north Kashmir on Monday after a sudden technical fault disrupted cable car services between the Base Station and Phase-1 (Kongdori), leaving hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air amid adverse weather conditions. 

According to officials, the malfunction affected multiple gondola cabins carrying tourists at the time of the incident. The suspension of services triggered panic among passengers, including women and children, as strong winds and poor weather conditions prevailed in the area.

Soon after the incident, a joint rescue operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district administration teams to safely evacuate all stranded passengers. Rescue personnel used emergency protocols and specialized equipment to bring tourists to safety from suspended cabins. 

Authorities stated that all gondola cabins remained intact and no injuries were reported during the operation. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government was closely monitoring the situation and assured the public that the rescue mission was being carried out under trained supervision.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also confirmed that he was personally monitoring the rescue efforts and had directed senior officials, including the Director General of Police, to coordinate operations at the site. 

Reports suggested that nearly 300 tourists were affected after the cable car system suddenly stopped functioning. Rescue teams worked continuously despite challenging weather to evacuate passengers safely from around 65 stranded gondola cabins. 

The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Asia’s highest cable car projects and a major tourist attraction in Jammu and Kashmir, was temporarily suspended for technical inspection and restoration work following the incident. Officials said a detailed assessment of the fault was underway before normal operations could resume. 

65 cabins were stranded and till now 80 passengers from 16 cabins have been safely rescued. Rescue operations for the remaining cabins are in progress. Stay tuned for further updates.