Panic in Gulmarg: Hundreds left hanging mid-air as Gondola malfunctions, rescue operation on

Emergency teams were rushed to the site after the cable car system suddenly stopped operating, leaving several tourists suspended in cabins above the ground.

The Indian Army Northern Command said 114 tourists from 21 cabins had been rescued so far.

“Rescue operations by trained teams continue. All passengers are safe and the situation is under control. No need to panic,” Northern Command said in a post on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government was closely monitoring the situation and confirmed that rescue efforts were underway.

In a post on X, Abdullah said, “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.”

He added, “The situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic.”

According to reports, the rescue operation involved personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and Army personnel.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the technical snag.

Initial reports suggested that overloading may have contributed to the malfunction, though officials are yet to confirm the exact reason.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was personally monitoring the rescue efforts.

“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 comprising Police, Army, SDRF, and district administration officials is conducting the operation to ensure the safety of all tourists,” he said in a post on X.

The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Asia’s highest cable car systems and a major tourist attraction in Kashmir, remains under close scrutiny as officials assess safety measures following the incident.