Nearly 300 tourists stranded in Gulmarg were safely evacuated after a technical malfunction disrupted operations of the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system. The Indian Army, SDRF, and local authorities carried out a swift rescue operation, successfully evacuating all affected passengers without any injuries. Officials confirmed that 65 cable cars were impacted, while technical teams continue investigating the cause of the malfunction.
In a major rescue operation carried out in Jammu and Kashmir’s famous tourist destination Gulmarg, all stranded tourists were safely evacuated after a technical malfunction disrupted services at the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system. Authorities confirmed that nearly 300 tourists who were left stranded due to the sudden suspension of gondola operations have now been rescued without any casualties or injuries.
The incident occurred after a technical fault affected the cable car system operating between the Gondola base station and Phase-I station, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the region. Following the malfunction, services were immediately halted as a precautionary measure, leaving several tourists stranded across different sections of the route.
Responding swiftly to the emergency, the Indian Army, in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local administration, launched an extensive rescue mission in the challenging mountainous terrain of Gulmarg. Rescue teams were mobilised immediately after local authorities issued a distress call.
According to an official statement released by the Indian Army, troops from the Butapathri Battalion deployed three specialised Casualty Assistance Teams along the affected route to ensure the safe evacuation of tourists. In addition, an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) was pressed into service to support rescue efforts in areas with difficult accessibility due to the region’s rugged terrain and weather conditions.
Officials stated that around 65 cable cars were impacted by the technical malfunction, causing a temporary suspension of gondola operations. Rescue personnel worked continuously to guide stranded passengers to safety while maintaining crowd management and ensuring calm among tourists during the operation.
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable car systems in the world, attracts thousands of domestic and international tourists every year. The incident briefly raised concerns among visitors and authorities; however, the timely intervention by rescue teams prevented the situation from escalating further.
Authorities have assured that technical experts are currently assessing the cause of the malfunction, and services will resume only after complete safety checks and necessary repairs are carried out. Meanwhile, tourists and local residents have praised the prompt response and coordinated efforts of the Indian Army, SDRF, and emergency teams involved in the successful evacuation operation.
