JK: Miraculous escape for tourists, stranded mid-air
Srinagar, Jan 25: Dozens of tourists had a miraculous escape when the Gondola cable car at Gulmarg developed a technical snag, leaving them stranded mid-air for several hours yesterday, sources said today.
However, a senior cable car official denied the incident.
The sources said as the tourists were enjoying a ride on the Gondola at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 50 km from here, the cable car suddenly developed technical snag and got jammed, leaving dozens of tourists stranded mid-air.
They said the tourists were rescued after remaining mid-air for nearly seven hours.
Some of the tourists reportedly called up the offices of the local media here to inform about their miraculous escape.
The tourists said death stared at their faces for more than seven hours besides biting cold further made their lives miserable.
Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Project (JKSCCP) Managing Director Nazir Ahmed Shah denied the incident, saying ''nothing of the sort had happened''.
''I was in Gulmarg for the whole day, but no such incident took place there. Even if the cable car develops a technical snag, we have foolproof back-up system to evacuate riders,'' he told UNI.
However, Mr Shah said one phase of the Gondola cable car would be shut down for 3-4 days in view of the maintenance work.
The bearings of the gearboxes of the cable cars need to be changed, the Managing Director said, adding these have already been imported from France.
''We have to prepare for the peak season which begins in May. As such, all the maintenance works are being carried out during off-season months,'' Mr Shah added.
Repeated attempts to contact state Tourism Director Farooq Ahmed Shah failed as he refused to answer phone calls.
UNI