Srinagar, May 25: Hundreds of tourists were safely rescued after operations of the Gulmarg Gondola were suspended on Monday following a technical malfunction in the cable car system, officials said.
The snag affected both phases of the gondola service, one of the highest cable car networks in the world and a major tourist attraction in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Officials said hundreds of tourists were stranded in cabins mid-air after the malfunction developed during operations. Rescue personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched an operation and evacuated all stranded passengers safely.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government was closely monitoring the situation and assured the public that there was no cause for panic.
“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. The situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Officials said safety protocols were activated immediately after the malfunction was detected and rescue teams were rushed to the spot to ensure safe evacuation of passengers.
Restoration work on the cable car system is currently underway, officials added, while the exact cause of the technical snag was yet to be ascertained.
The Gulmarg Gondola attracts thousands of tourists every year and connects the famous ski resort with Kongdoori and Apharwat mountain peak.
