Nearly 300 rescued after cable car in Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg halts mid-air

NBetimes 300 people were reclaimed on mon in Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg after a wire gondola service experienced technical faults. The technical snag left at least 65 cabins suspended in the air.As per news agency PTI, officials have stated that the rescue operations, which began around 3 PM today, have now concluded with all passengers accounted for.Following the incident, videos went viral on social media, and the chief minister's office stated it was aware of the incident and had called for a rescue operation."Government is closely monitoring the situation at the Gulmarg Gondola after the cable car service was temporarily halted due to a technical fault. All cabins remain intact, and rescue operations to safely evacuate stranded tourists are underway with trained teams on the ground," wrote Omar Abdullah's office."The situation is completely under control, and there is no cause for panic," the government added further.Indian Army's Northern Command also shared hourly updates of the operation. Based on the last update on social media, the Northern Command said around 286 passengers had been rescued, with only the final six cabins remaining at 7:15pm.However, officials have now stated that the operations have concluded. While officials have yet to confirm the exact cause of the breakdown, initial reports from the site suggest that a system overload may have triggered the sudden malfunction. The incident occurred during peak hours, forcing an immediate shutdown of both Phase I (Gulmarg base to Kongdori) and Phase II (ascending to Afarwat Peak at 3,950 metres).The ropeway’s automated safety mechanisms instantly froze the cable alignment to prevent further risk.Technical teams and engineering experts were deployed to the site immediately after the shutdown to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. Both phases of the Gondola remain closed to the public while investigators determine whether mechanical strain or an electronic trip caused the system to fail.Coordinated vertical rescueBecause the cabins were stranded over steep, forested terrain, rescue teams launched a specialised vertical evacuation operation to reach the trapped passengers.Utilising advanced rope systems, harnesses, and all-terrain gear, SDRF and NDRF personnel systematically accessed the cabins to lower the anxious tourists to safety.Local administration officials and medical teams were stationed at the base stations to provide immediate psychological and physical support to the rescued passengers, many of whom were shaken by the ordeal.Officials have further stated that the cable car will pass a rigorous structural safety audit, and only then will it be allowed to resume operations.(With inputs from HT's Mir Ehsan)