Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday praised India’s disaster response forces after a major rescue operation in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, where tourists were safely evacuated from cable cars that got stranded mid-air due to a technical fault in the Gulmarg Gondola system.
In a post on X, Shah commended the Indian Army, SDRF, NDRF, local police, and the administration for their swift and coordinated response during the six-hour rescue mission. The operation was launched soon after the ropeway service was disrupted, leaving passengers trapped in 65 cable cars above the scenic Gulmarg route.
Initial reports suggested that nearly 300 tourists were affected, though the latest updates confirmed that 184 people had been safely brought down by Monday evening. Rescue teams worked in challenging weather and difficult terrain, using ropes and ground coordination to evacuate the stranded passengers one by one.
Officials said the operation was carried out in phases until every passenger was accounted for. So far, there have been no reports of injuries, and all the cabins were reported to be intact during the incident.
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Kashmir’s most popular tourist attractions, draws visitors from across India and abroad. The sudden stoppage caused concern among tourists and authorities, with rescue teams rushing to the site immediately after the fault was detected.
While the exact technical cause has not yet been officially confirmed in the latest reports, early updates pointed to a possible mechanical snag that led to the suspension of the cable car service. The quick response by multiple agencies helped prevent a larger crisis and ensured the safe evacuation of all stranded passengers.