Successful trial runs completed, reopening to boost tourism
Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, Jun 25 :
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Kashmir’s premier tourist attractions, is likely to resume operations on Thursday after remaining shut for a month following a major technical malfunction that left hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air.
Sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that successful trial runs of the cable car system have been completed and authorities are now preparing for the restoration of services.
“The trial runs have been successful and there is nothing left. We will most probably resume operations today evening,” they said.
The Gondola has remained non-functional since May 25, when a technical snag halted services and left more than 300 tourists stranded in cabins suspended above the ground. The incident triggered panic among visitors and led to a large-scale rescue operation involving technical teams and emergency responders. The evacuation process continued for several hours before all passengers were safely brought to the ground.
Following the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation suspended operations and initiated an extensive technical inspection of the system. Engineers and experts carried out detailed examinations of the mechanical, electrical, communication, braking and safety components of the cable car network.
As maintenance work continued, the corporation repeatedly extended the closure period, eventually announcing that the Gondola would remain closed until further notice to facilitate comprehensive safety checks and repairs.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on June 10 this year had constituted a high-level committee to probe the circumstances that led to the malfunction. The panel was tasked with examining the technical failure, reviewing maintenance and operational records, assessing compliance with safety protocols and fixing responsibility, if any, for lapses that may have contributed to the incident.
Sources said all mandatory inspections and test runs have now been completed successfully, paving the way for the restoration of services. The final decision regarding reopening is expected after formal approval from the concerned authorities.
The reopening of the Gondola is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism in Gulmarg, which has witnessed a decline in visitor activity following the suspension of operations during the peak summer season—(KNO)