Gulmarg Cable Car Rescue: Agencies Respond To Technical Fault And Evacuation

Hundreds of visitors trapped in cabins of the Gulmarg cable car service in Jammu and Kashmir were brought down safely on 25 May, after a technical fault halted operations and triggered a coordinated rescue effort involving SDRF, NDRF and several other specialised agencies.

Authorities said both stages of the Gulmarg Gondola, commonly called the Gulmarg cable car service, were shut once the snag appeared. Cabins stopped between towers with tourists onboard, leading to concern across the hill station before rescue teams reached the spot.

Gulmarg cable car service rescue efforts led by multiple agencies

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force used safety gear to reach stranded cabins and lower tourists to the ground. SF Spl CI units, HAWAS personnel and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) members joined the mission, which continued until all stuck visitors were brought down.

Officials confirmed that hundreds of tourists who had taken rides on the Gulmarg cable car service were evacuated without injury. Restoration work on the cable system started soon after the last person was rescued, with technical staff inspecting machinery and lines to allow services to resume once cleared as safe.

VIDEO | Gulmarg: Technical glitch halts Gulmarg Gondola service; all tourists safely rescued.

(Source: Third Party)

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/4wjEjgXuVl

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 25, 2026

Gulmarg cable car service technical fault and official response

Early inputs indicated that overloading could have contributed to the malfunction, though engineers have not issued a final assessment. Authorities have started a detailed inquiry to identify the precise cause of the technical fault, which left many cabins suspended and raised serious safety concerns at the popular skiing and holiday destination.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the administration was tracking every development. In a post on X, Abdullah stated, "All cabins are intact and rescue operations to safely evacuate stranded tourists are underway with trained teams on the ground." Abdullah added, "The situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic."

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also commented on the disruption at the Gulmarg cable car service. Sinha wrote, "I'm monitoring the rescue operation for tourists stranded in cable car cabins following a technical fault in Gulmarg. I have directed DGP to proceed to the site." Officials said monitoring would continue until repairs finish and safety checks are complete.