320 stranded after Gulmarg cable car glitch rescued in 6-hour operation

Cable car service runs from the base to approximately 14,000 feet at Apharwat Peak

The Gulmarg Gondola, the cable car service that takes tourists to the upper reaches of the tourist destination, developed a technical snag on Monday amid inclement weather, leaving over 300 people stranded mid-air for hours before they were rescued.

Director General of J&K Police, Nalin Prabhat, who was monitoring the situation late evening on Monday, said 320 people were rescued in efforts by police, Army and other rescue personnel.

Large Scale Rescue Operations at Gulmarg Gandola by Trained Teams in Progress.

Swift and coordinated rescue efforts by #ChinarCorps, #IndianArmy and #Gulmarg Gandola operators are underway after ropeway cabins got stranded mid-air.

65 cabins were stranded and till now 80… pic.twitter.com/uPhCzYkiq6

— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) May 25, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated those involved in the rescue efforts, saying in a post on X, “Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir. The disaster response teams comprising the SDRF, NDRF, Army personnel, local police, and the administration swung into action and rescued all the passengers stranded in 65 cable cars through a six-hour-long operation. The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill.”

Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir. The disaster response teams comprising the SDRF, NDRF, Army personnel, local police, and the administration swung into action and rescued all the…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 25, 2026

A total of 65 cabins were stuck along the cables following the technical snag. The incident came to light just after 1 pm on Monday.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attributed the incident to a “technical glitch”, adding that all cabins remained intact.

Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of all agencies, rescue teams and personnel involved in the successful evacuation of tourists stranded after the Gulmarg Gondola developed a technical fault. He commended the swift response, coordination and professionalism displayed during…

— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) May 25, 2026

A popular tourist destination, Gulmarg hosts thousands of visitors around the year, with gondola bookings reserved weeks in advance. The cable car runs in two phases, from the base to approximately 14,000 feet at Apharwat Peak.

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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