A massive multi-agency rescue operation in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg concluded successfully on Monday evening after more than 300 stranded tourists were safely evacuated from cable car cabins following a technical malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola, officials said.
The large-scale rescue mission, carried out under challenging weather and mountainous terrain conditions, witnessed the coordinated efforts of several security and emergency response agencies, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Gulmarg Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), Snow Leopards, and personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, including 14 specially trained Mountain Rescue Teams.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) also played a crucial role in ensuring the safe evacuation of tourists stranded mid-air after the gondola service developed a technical snag earlier in the day.
Officials told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that more than 300 tourists had initially become stranded after operations of the world-famous Gulmarg Gondola were disrupted due to a technical fault, triggering panic among visitors and prompting authorities to launch an immediate rescue operation.
Senior police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, personally monitored the rescue operation on the ground along with the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of North Kashmir Range and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of all tourists.
According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, the operation was conducted in a highly coordinated manner despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
“Through coordinated teamwork and timely response by all agencies involved, stranded tourists were rescued safely,” police said, praising the professionalism and dedication displayed by the rescue teams.
The rescue efforts were intensified after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha personally took stock of the situation and directed senior officials to ensure the safety of all stranded tourists.
The Lieutenant Governor spoke to Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and directed DGP Nalin Prabhat to immediately proceed to Gulmarg to oversee the rescue mission.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor had said, “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, DC and SSP are conducting the operation to ensure the safety of all tourists.”
Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Division, Major General Manoj Joshi, said rescue teams worked continuously to evacuate stranded passengers from dozens of cable cars suspended mid-air.
“There were 65 cable cars on the Gulmarg Gondola. By 1800 hours, along with other agencies, we had rescued about 29 to 30 cable cars. Around 10 had no occupants, while rescue operations for the remaining cabins continued and later concluded,” Maj Gen Joshi said during the operation.
On the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Deputy Chief Minister also visited Gulmarg in the evening to assess the situation and review safety measures following the incident.
During the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the preparedness of various departments and directed officials to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place for the safety and convenience of both local residents and tourists visiting the popular tourist destination.
Authorities said the incident was handled swiftly and efficiently, preventing any major mishap and ensuring that all stranded tourists were evacuated safely.
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable car projects in the world and a major tourist attraction in Jammu and Kashmir, attracts thousands of visitors every year. Officials said technical teams are assessing the malfunction and necessary inspections will be carried out before operations resume.(KINS)
Ishtiyaq Kar
