Srinagar, June 24 (NVI): The Gulmarg Gondola, one of the country’s highest and most popular cable car projects, is likely to resume operations on Thursday after remaining suspended for nearly a month following a technical malfunction, officials said.
The cable car service was halted on May 25 after a technical snag left more than 300 tourists stranded in cabins mid-air, triggering a major rescue operation. All passengers were safely evacuated after several hours.
Officials said successful trial runs of the system have been completed and the service is expected to be restored after the required approvals.
“The trial runs have been successful and operations are likely to resume tomorrow evening,” an official said.
Following the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation suspended services and undertook extensive inspections and maintenance of the gondola system. Technical teams examined the mechanical, electrical, communication, braking and other safety components before conducting test runs.
The shutdown was extended several times to allow comprehensive safety checks and repairs.
On June 10, the Jammu and Kashmir government constituted a high-level committee to investigate the reasons behind the malfunction. The panel was tasked with examining the technical failure, reviewing maintenance and operational records, assessing adherence to safety protocols and identifying any lapses.
Officials said all mandatory inspections and test runs have now been completed successfully, clearing the way for the possible resumption of services.—(NVI)
