Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 25

The Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and civil administration on Monday launched a major rescue operation after a technical fault in the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system disrupted services, leaving dozens of tourists stranded mid-air in north Kashmir.

Officials said the malfunction occurred on the stretch between the Base Station and Kongdoori, or Phase I, forcing the suspension of gondola services.

The disruption affected 65 cable cars, including 55 occupied cabins carrying tourists and 10 unoccupied cabins, prompting an immediate multi-agency evacuation effort.

An army spokesperson said rescue teams were mobilised after the force received a distress call from police and the Gondola Management Authority.

“The army swiftly moved rescue teams to the affected area to assist in evacuation efforts despite difficult terrain and adverse weather,” the spokesperson said.

Troops from the Butapathri Battalion deployed three casualty assistance teams between the gondola base station and Phase I, while an all-terrain vehicle was also pressed into service to support the operation, the spokesperson said.

The State Disaster Response Force, police and other civil agencies joined the rescue effort, while additional all-terrain vehicles were arranged through the Gulmarg ATV Association to strengthen evacuation operations as restoration of the cable car system was expected to take time.

Major General Manoj Joshi, General Officer Commanding of the 19 Infantry Division, reviewed the operation on the ground and said rescue teams were carrying out evacuation and assistance efforts in coordination with local authorities.

Officials said technical teams from the gondola authorities were assessing the cause of the malfunction and evaluating the extent of the fault.