Srinagar, May 25 (NVI): The Gulmarg Gondola service in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district will remain suspended for two days for technical maintenance after hundreds of tourists were stranded mid-air due to a malfunction, officials said on Monday.
The cable car service will remain closed on May 26 and 27 as a precautionary measure to allow inspection and rectification of the technical issue that disrupted operations earlier in the day, they said.
Officials said all tickets booked for May 25, 26 and 27 would be refunded in full, while expressing regret over the inconvenience caused to tourists.
The disruption occurred around 1:20 pm when a technical fault halted the gondola service, leaving nearly 400 tourists stranded for several hours.
A large-scale rescue operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and civil administration was launched, and all stranded passengers were evacuated safely without any injuries, officials said.
Authorities said the service would resume only after completion of all safety checks and technical inspections.
The Gulmarg Gondola is among Kashmir’s major tourist attractions and witnesses heavy tourist footfall during the summer season.(NVI)
