What began as a scenic morning cable car rideabove the KAshmir Valley turned into a harrowing ordeal on Monday when a mechanical breakdown brought Asia's highest gondola system to a sudden halt, leaving close to 300 tourists stranded in suspended cabins.
What began as a scenic morning cable car ride above the Kashmir valley turned into a harrowing ordeal on Monday when a mechanical breakdown brought Asia's highest gondola system to a sudden halt, leaving close to 300 tourists stranded in suspended cabins at heights of up to 500 feet. By evening, every single passenger had been safely brought down, with no injuries reported, the result of a swift, coordinated effort by the Indian Army, police, and two national disaster response agencies.
The trouble began around noon on Monday, when a technical fault caused the Gulmarg Gondola to cease operating between its base station and the first-phase terminal at Kongdori. Authorities suspended both phases of the ropeway system as a precaution. Of the 65 gondola cabins on the line, 52 were occupied at the time, leaving their passengers marooned mid-air as heavy rain moved into the area, complicating what was already a logistically difficult rescue.
Jammu and Kashmir Police said they received the distress call at approximately 1:20 PM. Within minutes, the local Station House Officer arrived with his full station staff, followed by a rapid mobilisation of 15 teams from the State Disaster Response Force and eight units from the police's specialised Mountain Rescue Unit. The Army's Butapathri Battalion deployed three Casualty Assistance Teams and moved an All-Terrain Vehicle forward to navigate the steep, rain-soaked terrain.
Tourists rescued: 286–320 (across agency counts)
Cabins affected: 52 occupied out of 65 total
Height above ground: Up to 500 feet
Duration of operation: Six to seven hours
Agencies involved: Army, SDRF, NDRF, JKP, civil admin
Casualties: None
Rescue teams used high-altitude ropes and ladders to carry out a cabin-by-cabin evacuation in worsening weather conditions, with 148 passengers rescued from one section and 138 from another as multiple agencies worked in parallel, including the SDRF, police mountain rescue units, the Army, and civil administration officials.
DGP Nalin Prabhat said, “15 teams from the SDRF were rapidly mobilised… furthermore, 8 teams from our regular police’s Mountain Rescue Unit arrived, as did our specialised Snow Leopard teams.”
By evening, officials confirmed the operation was completed safely. “All stranded persons have been evacuated safely,” a senior official said, adding that restoration work on the ropeway was underway.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who monitored the situation throughout the day, praised the forces, calling the operation an example of “extraordinary bravery and skill.” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also commended the coordinated response, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the forces had demonstrated “valour and capability under pressure,” earning nationwide appreciation.
Monday's breakdown is not the first time the Gulmarg Gondola, one of Kashmir's most visited tourist attractions, has made headlines for the wrong reasons. In June 2017, a cabin was struck by an uprooted tree during strong winds, killing seven people. Questions have since been raised periodically about whether the ropeway should operate during inclement weather conditions. Authorities have confirmed that a full technical investigation into the cause of Monday's failure is underway.