Aatif Qayoom
Srinagar, June 1: The Gulmarg Gondola service will remain suspended for tourists till June 5, 2026, due to technical maintenance, according to an official notice issued by the J&K Cable Car Corporation on its official website.
The notice informed tourists that all tickets booked for visit dates between May 25 and June 5 will be refunded in full. The corporation also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to visitors due to the temporary closure of the service.
Officials said the shutdown has been ordered to carry out necessary maintenance and inspection works in the cable car system to ensure safe and smooth operations for tourists. The Gulmarg Gondola is considered one of the most visited tourist attractions in Kashmir and witnesses heavy footfall during the ongoing summer season.
Authorities have advised tourists and visitors to check official updates before planning their visit to Gulmarg during the closure period. Tourism stakeholders in the area said the suspension may temporarily affect tourist activity, but they welcomed the decision keeping passenger safety in view.
The latest maintenance comes shortly after a major technical glitch in the Gondola system left several tourists stranded mid air, triggering a massive rescue operation in Gulmarg. More than 300 tourists were safely rescued after the service developed the fault, leading to suspension of operations for several hours.
The rescue operation was jointly carried out by officials and staff of the Cable Car Corporation, Army, Police, SDRF teams, and the civil administration. Rescue teams worked for hours to evacuate passengers safely from the cabins amid panic among tourists.
The operation was widely appreciated as all stranded tourists were rescued safely without any injury.
Following the incident, authorities decided to conduct a detailed inspection and maintenance of the entire system before allowing normal operations to resume.
The Gulmarg Gondola remains a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists visiting Kashmir every year.