Gulmarg gondola cable broke, 20 cabs hanging in the air, 120 tourists stranded

On 26 January 2025, a horrific incident at Gulmarg, the famous tourist destination of Jammu & Kashmir, left everyone stunned. The cable wire of Gulmarg Gondola, which is one of the best cable cars in the world, broke. Due to this, 20 gondola cabs got stuck in the air and 120 tourists died in them. This incident took place at Tower Number 1 of Gulmarg when the cable of the gondola system broke due to a technical fault and the entire operation of the system came to a halt. This event occurred during the tourist season, when thousands of people come to enjoy the snow-covered hills of Gulmarg. This incident worried everyone, but there was nothing to worry about as rescue operations were started immediately.

Technical Glitch Stopped Service According to officials, when the gondola cable snapped, cabs 15 and 16 got stuck in the air. Due to this, many tourists, who were families and adventure lovers, fell at a height of more than 13,000 feet, which became a cause of great concern.But rescue operations were started immediately, and the good news is that no one was seriously injured. Authorities assured everyone that everything is under control, and the situation is being handled quickly. The engineering team was immediately sent to solve this problem, and officials said that there is nothing to worry about.

Rescue operations begin As soon as the problem was discovered, the technical team started work. Officials said that the problem occurred when the rope slipped from the pulley, due to which the system was temporarily shut down. The team then put the rope back on the pulley and slowly started the gondola system running again.Authorities also confirmed that helicopters were ready in case of an emergency so that tourists could be safely evacuated quickly. Rescue operations are still underway, and all passengers are being safely lowered from the gondola.

Gulmarg Gondola – A Big Tourist Attraction Gulmarg Gondola is one of the world’s tallest cable cars, offering visitors a view of the beautiful Himalayas. This gondola ride is a major tourist attraction in Gulmarg, especially when the whole place is covered with snow, then it becomes even more popular. This gondola connects Kongdoori base station to Apharwat Peak, where it reaches a height of 13,450 feet.

The gondola operates in two phases: the first phase goes from Kongdoori to the mid-station, and the second phase goes to Apharwat peak. Tourists come here and enjoy the snow-covered landscape, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them.

Previous Incidents and Safety Concerns This is not the first time a technical failure has occurred in Gulmarg Gondola. In 2017 too, a tragic accident occurred when the cable broke, in which 7 people were killed, including two children. At that time, due to a storm, a tree fell on the cable, due to which the cable broke and the gondola car fell down.

Since then, the authorities have taken several steps to increase safety measures and also carried out regular maintenance of the gondola system. But the incident that happened in 2025 has again become a cause of concern for people about safety. The officials have again reassured that necessary precautions will be taken to prevent such issues in the future.

Tourist Safety First The management team of Gulmarg Gondola gives utmost importance to tourist safety. The local tourism department and rescue teams are working together to evacuate all the tourists safely. No major injuries have been reported so far and everyone is being safely brought down from the gondola.The authorities have also confirmed that the gondola system will be back to normal very soon. The tourists who got trapped in the gondola are being repeatedly informed about their safety and all steps are being taken to enable them to safely come down.

Authorities say: Everything will be fine soon Authorities have confirmed that the technical issue has been resolved now and operations will resume soon. The engineering team is on site and working so that the gondola system can be fully restored. Soon this service will be fully operational and tourists will be able to enjoy the beauty of Gulmarg again.

Tourism is increasing in Gulmarg, and gondola ride is still a key attraction. Authorities have assured that more safety measures will be taken in future so that such incidents do not occur, especially when the tourist season is at its peak.

Conclusion: This incident at Gulmarg Gondola once again highlights the importance of safety and maintenance. While there was a temporary disruption due to the technical failure, there were no casualties due to the quick response and rescue operations by the authorities. As tourism in Jammu & Kashmir increases, the safety protocols will be strengthened further. Tourists now have the assurance that their safety is the first priority at all times.

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