286 tourists saved, but can Kashmir’s flagship attraction afford another close call?
The successful rescue of 286 tourists stranded mid-air on the Gulmarg Gondola is a moment of collective relief for Jammu and Kashmir and an urgent reminder that luck and bravery cannot be substitutes for robust safety systems. That every cabin was cleared, every life saved, and no injury reported despite a massive technical snag and hostile weather is a tribute to the dedication and coordination of our rescue agencies. But it is also an alarm bell that must not be muffled by celebration alone. On Monday afternoon, a gearbox failure abruptly halted operations, leaving 62 of the 65 cable cars hanging between the base and Phase I. For nearly 6.5 hours, tourists, many of them families and first-time visitors, were trapped high above one of the world’s premier ski and tourism destinations. In those tense hours, Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, NDRF, Army units including 9 Rajputana Rifles, the High Altitude Warfare School, local pony and ATV operators, and specialised “Snow Leopard” teams mounted a textbook multi-agency operation. Working on several cabins simultaneously, battling rain and hail, they brought everyone down safely before night fully closed in.
The administration deserves credit for its visible, hands-on engagement. Senior officers, the Deputy Chief Minister, local representatives and the Lieutenant Governor’s office monitored developments closely. Public communication, including repeated appeals to tourists to remain calm, helped prevent panic. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assurance of an enquiry and accountability for any lapses is welcome, but it must translate into time-bound, transparent action. For Kashmir, tourism is not just an economic sector; it is a lifeline, a narrative of normalcy painstakingly rebuilt over the years. The Gulmarg Gondola is one of its most iconic symbols, drawing tourists from across the country and abroad. A major tragedy here would have dealt a severe blow to public confidence and the UT’s image. That tragedy was averted, but the underlying questions remain: How rigorous are our maintenance protocols? How frequently are critical components like gearboxes inspected and replaced? Are emergency drills and contingency plans updated and rehearsed? Monday’s incident must be treated as a turning point. The priority now is an independent technical audit of the Gondola system, strict adherence to global safety standards, and a culture of preventive maintenance rather than reactive crisis management. The rescue showed Kashmir at its best: disciplined, united, and resilient. The follow-up will show whether we are equally serious about learning from a narrow escape and ensuring that such a scare does not recur in the future. Gulmarg Gondola is not just a marvel of altitude and beauty, but a model of reliability and trust.