Over 300 tourists were safely rescued after a technical snag halted operations of the Gulmarg Gondola in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a swift response from rescue teams and authorities on site.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat said on Tuesday that it was a proud moment for him to stand with the teams of rescuers, who undertook the most challenging task by safely rescuing 320 people from the stranded cable car cabins in Gulmarg.
“Honestly speaking, I didn’t believe we could complete the task before midnight. It is a proud moment for me to stand with you,” the DGP told personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, NDRF, Army and local rescue teams, reported IANS.
Multi-agency teams carried out six-hour rescue operation
The police chief said teams from Gulmarg Police Station were the first to reach the site and were soon joined by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, NDRF, SDRF and local rescuers.
“All of them worked in the most coordinated and professional manner to successfully complete the rescue operation and bring down 320 stranded people,” he said, reported IANS.
Special DGP Javaid Mujtaba Gilani, Special DG and Commandant General Home Guards Abdul Ghani Mir, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi and other senior police officers were also present during the rescue operation.
Rescue operation in mountainous terrain posed major challenge
Prabhat said rescue operations in mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions were far more difficult than operations conducted on the ground.
“The rescue of people stranded inside cable car cabins in difficult mountainous terrain amid bad weather was an extremely challenging task,” he said, the news agency reported.
“We in Jammu and Kashmir Police have always been given the toughest challenges, and we have always successfully completed them,” the DGP added.
DG Commendation medals announced for rescuers
The DGP congratulated personnel from Gulmarg Police Station, SOG, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs), SDRF and other agencies for their extraordinary efforts during the six-hour-long operation.
“You may be tired, hungry and thirsty, but I am sure all of you are happy because you were given a purpose today and you achieved success,” he told the rescuers.
Prabhat further announced that every individual involved in the operation would receive the DG Commendation Medal in recognition of their bravery and dedication.
He added that rescuers who had already received DG commendation certificates would be rewarded through other means, including promotions and other recognitions.
Applause to India’s disaster response forces: HM Amit Shah
Praising the swift rescue operation in Gulmarg, Amit Shah on Monday lauded the efforts of disaster response and security forces for safely evacuating stranded tourists from cable cars.
Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir. The disaster response teams comprising the SDRF, NDRF, Army personnel, local police, and the administration swung into action and rescued all the…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 25, 2026
Taking to X, Shah said, “Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir.”
He added that teams from the SDRF, NDRF, Army, local police and the administration carried out a six-hour-long operation to rescue all passengers stranded in 65 cable cars.
“The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill,” Shah said.
(With IANS inputs)