Operations of both phases of the Gulmarg cable car service, popularly known as Gondola, were suspended after the malfunction.
Image: IANS
Nearly 300 tourists were left stranded mid-air after a cable car system at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, May 25, developed technical problems, officials said.
All the stranded tourists were brought to safety by rescue teams, IANS quoted officials as saying.
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Operations of both phases of the Gulmarg cable car service, popularly known as Gondola, were suspended after the malfunction, while there were no casualties reported.
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According to officials, hundreds of tourists enjoying the ride were rescued safely from the cabins by personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as well as police and Army.
Further, they informed that the restoration work on the cable car system was underway.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his government was “closely monitoring” the situation.
In a post on X, he stated that all cabins are intact. “The situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic,” he added.
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.…
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) May 25, 2026
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he had directed DGP Nalin Prabhat to proceed to Gulmarg to oversee the recue operation. “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. Joint rescue teams of Police, Army & SDRF along with DC and SSP are conducting the operation to ensure the safety of all tourists,” Sinha wrote on X.
I’m monitoring the rescue operation for tourists stranded in cable car cabins following a technical fault in Gulmarg. I have directed DGP to proceed to the site. Joint rescue team of Police, Army & SDRF & DC, SSP is conducting the operation to ensure the safety of all tourists.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) May 25, 2026
The Gulmarg Gondola earlier met an accident on June 25, 2017, when a tree uprooted by strong winds struck a cabin, causing it to crash to the ground. At that time, seven people were killed.
In January last year, the cable car was temporarily suspended due to technical issues.
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