Hundreds of tourists were stranded after the Gulmarg Gondola cable car service in Jammu and Kashmir developed a technical fault on Monday, forcing several cabins to halt mid-air. Rescue teams from multiple agencies launched a large-scale evacuation operation to bring passengers to safety.
Hundreds of tourists were stranded mid-air after the Gulmarg Gondola cable car service in Jammu and Kashmir suffered a technical fault on Monday, triggering a major rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
Officials said operations of both phases of the Gulmarg Gondola were suspended after the malfunction caused several cabins to halt while carrying tourists. Panic spread across the hill resort as cabins remained suspended high above the ground.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, HAWAS and the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched an evacuation operation to bring stranded passengers to safety.
According to the Indian Army’s Northern Command, a total of 65 cabins came to a halt. Around 80 passengers from 16 cabins had been rescued as the operation continued.
The office of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government was closely monitoring the situation.
“All cabins remain intact, and rescue operations to safely evacuate stranded tourists are underway with trained teams on the ground,” the Chief Minister’s office said in a post on X, adding that the situation was under control and there was “no cause for panic”.
Officials said all rescued tourists were brought down safely, while restoration work on the cable car system was underway.
First Published:
May 25, 2026, 17:43 IST
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