The Indian Army and local authorities evacuated 80 tourists after a technical fault stranded several cabins on the Gulmarg Gondola on Monday [1].
The incident highlights the vulnerability of high-altitude transport systems in Jammu & Kashmir, where mechanical failures can quickly isolate travelers in precarious conditions.
A technical failure in the gondola system caused cabins to stop moving and become suspended mid-air [3]. According to reports, 65 cabins were stranded during the disruption [1]. The failure necessitated an immediate response from multiple agencies to ensure the safety of those trapped in the cabins.
The rescue operation was a joint effort involving the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the local administration [1, 2]. Personnel worked to evacuate the passengers from the suspended cabins to safety.
While some reports indicated that nearly 300 tourists were trapped during the disruption [3], official figures from ANI News said that 80 tourists were evacuated [1]. The discrepancy in numbers reflects the evolving nature of the situation as rescue teams managed the crowds on the mountain.
Emergency responders focused on the safe descent of passengers from the high-altitude cabins. The operation concluded after the identified passengers were brought back to ground level. Local officials have not yet released a detailed report on the specific nature of the technical fault that led to the system failure [1, 2].
“65 cabins were stranded during the disruption”
This incident underscores the critical role of military and disaster response infrastructure in maintaining tourist safety in Jammu & Kashmir's rugged terrain. The reliance on the Indian Army for civilian evacuations suggests that local administrative resources may be insufficient for large-scale technical failures in high-risk zones. Future safety audits of the Gulmarg Gondola will likely be necessary to prevent similar disruptions during peak travel periods.
