GULMARG, May 26: It was supposed to be a ride offering panoramic views of the snow-capped Pir Panjal range. Instead, for nearly 300 tourists, the Gulmarg Gondola turned into a mid-air nightmare that lasted several agonizing hours on Monday.
But by late evening, every single stranded visitor had been safely evacuated — and today, the only thing echoing through the valley is praise for the Jammu and Kashmir administration, which tourists have described as nothing short of “heroic.”
Speaking exclusively to The Kashmir Convener, Vineet Bekal, a tourist from Mumbai, recounted how his family had a providential escape. “We came to Gulmarg the day before yesterday. Yesterday morning, we went for the gondola ride. Just before our turn, there was a sudden fault in the system. We could say that we were saved by minutes,” Bekal said.
“We had to come down in the pouring rain with our kids. It was terrifying. But the guides helped us without asking for a single rupee. They carried our children on their shoulders. The Army, the locals, the guides — they were very good people, very kind,” he added, his voice still trembling from the memory.
Bekal, the Mumbai tourist, admitted that only after reaching the base did the family grasp the gravity of what had happened. “We could not see all the gondolas from the path we were walking. After coming down, we saw how serious it was. So many cars just hanging there. It could have been us.”
He reserved his strongest words for the administration. “I have travelled across India. I have never seen such a response. The J&K administration did not hesitate for a second. They didn’t just save us. They risked everything. Their own lives were on the line. That is heroism.”
According to officials, the technical snag occurred around 1:30 pm on Monday, when the cable system of the Phase 2 stretch of the Gulmarg Gondola — one of the highest in the world — suddenly came to a halt. Dozens of cable cars were left dangling mid-air, some at altitudes exceeding 13,000 feet, as rain lashed the slopes and temperatures dropped sharply.
Panic spread quickly among tourists, many of whom were families with young children and elderly members. “We could see the other gondolas swinging in the wind. People inside were screaming. We were walking down on foot, slipping in the mud, and all we could think was — what if that was us?” said Neeta Sharma, a tourist from Delhi who was on her way down when the snag occurred.
Within minutes, the district administration activated its disaster response mechanism. Local guides, many of whom were off duty, rushed to the spot without being called. “We heard the news and just ran. These tourists come to our home. How could we leave them hanging in the sky?” said Ghulam Hassan, a local guide who helped evacuate at least 15 tourists.
The Army was deployed swiftly, and police personnel set up a base camp at the bottom of the slope. Over the next several hours, rescue teams manually lowered stranded tourists using ropes and alternate cable systems. By 7:30 pm, the last of the trapped visitors touched solid ground.
No casualties were reported.
Another tourist from Gujarat, whose video praising a cable car official has since gone viral on social media, said the official’s bravery turned the tide of the entire operation.
“That man is a real hero. Without thinking about his life, he took a bold step and secured our lives,” the Gujarat tourist said, referring to the official who climbed the cable tower under extreme weather conditions to stabilize the snagged mechanism.
“He didn’t wear a safety harness properly. He just climbed. We were crying watching him. He saved us all,” the tourist added.
Local hoteliers confirmed that most tourists, though shaken, have chosen to extend their stays, reassured by the swift action. “They are scared, yes. But they also feel safe because they saw how quickly everyone responded,” said Tariq Ahmad, who runs a hotel near the Gondola base.
Ramesh Nair, tourist from Kerala: “We were stuck for over five hours. The wind was howling, and the rain didn’t stop. When the Army personnel arrived, they didn’t even ask our names—just threw blankets on us and carried the elderly down the slope on their backs. That’s not duty; that’s divinity
Priyanka Joshi, tourist from Pune: “I saw a young soldier give his own dry jacket to a shivering child. When I thanked him, he just smiled and said, ‘Aap hamare mehmaanhain‘ (You are our guests). The J&K administration and the Army turned a death trap into a lesson in humanity.
Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the disaster response teams for the safe evacuation. “The swift and coordinated action saved precious lives. Our forces and the J&K administration have once again proven their commitment to protecting every citizen and visitor,” Shah said in a statement.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the extraordinary bravery displayed during the daring rescue. “The nation salutes the disaster response forces, the Army, the J&K Police and the district administration for their valor and remarkable skill. They turned a potential tragedy into a story of courage,” Sinha said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while commending the rescue operation that ensured all stranded tourists were brought to safety without any casualty, made it clear that the matter will not be taken lightly. “The incident will be thoroughly examined and an inquiry conducted. Responsibility for any lapses will be fixed and appropriate action will be taken against those found negligent,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat announced commendation awards for police and rescue personnel involved in the successful operation.
The J&K administration has ordered a technical inquiry into the snag. Gondola services remain suspended until further notice.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, normalcy returned to the world-famous tourist destination Gulmarg, as tourists and locals visited and enjoyed their time there.
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