Army, J&K Government Evacuates 320 Tourists in Gulmarg Gondola After Car Cable Snag

The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and State Disaster Relief Force, on Monday (May 25, 2026), rescued around 320 tourists, who were stranded at the Gulmarg Gondola following a car cable snag that left them precarious.

The army and the state machinery launched a joint operation on receiving information regarding the technical snag in the car cable at the tourist site, a popular ski resort, in Baramulla district.

Panic had gripped the tourists, who were in the car cable hanging mid-air, following which the army and the state administration were approached to launch the rescue mission.

The car cable had malfunctioned, affecting the Gondola service operating between the Base Station and the Kongdori Phase-I, forcing suspension of operation on both sides of the car cable system.

The tourists on the 65-cabin car cable system were hanging mid-air for hours at Asia’s highest ropeway, and the multi-agency rescue operations to get them to safety took over seven hours.

The cabins were dangling nearly 500 feet above the ground, and the rescue effort was slowed down and hampered by heavy rains in the area, according to officers who were supervising the recovery operations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and the Union Territory Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lauded the response of the army’s Chinar Corps and the state machinery to carry out the rescue of the stranded tourists.

“Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir. The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill,” Amit Shah posted on X.

Sinha said he had directed the Director General of Police to proceed to Gulmarg to oversee the rescue operation. He said the nation stood united in applauding the extraordinary bravery of disaster response teams. “All holidayers were rescued safely,” he added.

“I spoke with senior officials and directed them to ensure every necessary support is provided. The nation salutes the disaster response forces, the Army, JKP, and the district administration for their valour and remarkable skill,” Sinha said.

Abdullah said he had ordered an investigation into the car cable snag and for action to be taken against those responsible for any lapses. “The incident will be thoroughly examined and an inquiry conducted. Responsibility for any lapses will be fixed and appropriate action taken,” he posted on X.

“He (CM) commended the swift response, coordination, and professionalism displayed during the rescue operation, which ensured the safe evacuation of all tourists,” a J&K government official said. Earlier, Abdullah said his government was “closely monitoring” the situation, and there was no cause for panic.

On X, the Indian Army also lauded the Chinar Corps for the swift assistance rendered and the coordination in the rescue efforts with the state government.

Abdullah’s deputy Surinder Chaudhary, DGP Nalin Prabhat, 19 Infantry Division General Officer Commanding Major General Manoj Joshi were physically present at the rescue site to supervise the operations to bring the stranded tourists to safety.

“All the people were taken out of the cabins. Everyone is safe now. A lot of tourists have come out of the Gondola,” Chaudhary said, noting that the Chief Minister had directed him to rush to the rescue site.

“A request was received from the Cable Car Corporation and the District Administration Baramulla for the rescue of people stranded in the cable cars,” Major General Joshi said, adding that the rescuers were regularly in touch with the stranded tourists to assure them of returning to safe ground.

The Gulmarg Gondola has experienced technical halts in the past, too, including a temporary suspension in January 2025. In a major incident on June 25, 2027, a cabin had crashed, claiming seven lives, after an uprooted tree struck the cabin during heavy winds.