More than 300 tourists stranded mid-air after a technical malfunction halted the Gulmarg Gondola in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, May 25, were rescued safely following a coordinated seven-hour operation by multiple agencies, officials said. The large-scale evacuation, carried out amid rain and strong winds, ended by late evening with no reported injuries or fatalities.
The ropeway-touted as Asia’s highest-stopped around noon, leaving roughly 300 people spread across 65 cabins, with some passengers suspended nearly 500 feet above the ground. The sudden halt forced authorities to mount an immediate rescue response given the steep, forested terrain beneath the line.
Teams from the Indian Army, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police worked together at the scene. Rescuers used ropes, ladders and safety harnesses to lower passengers one by one from the cabins, a slow and careful process complicated by adverse weather and the slope of the hillside.
By late evening all tourists had been evacuated and given medical checks; officials reported no injuries. The operation drew praise from local authorities for the coordination between agencies and the professionalism of the rescue crews.
In the aftermath, gondola services have been suspended until detailed technical inspections and safety checks are completed. The incident has reignited concerns about maintenance standards and emergency preparedness at one of Kashmir’s busiest tourist attractions, prompting calls for a thorough probe and reassurances on safety before services resume.
Original Source: https://www.guwahatiplus.com/india/over-300-tourists-rescued-after-gulmarg-gondola-malfunction-leaves-cabins-stranded-mid-air
Category: India
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Publish Date: 2026-05-26 15:18:00
