CM says no compromise on passenger safety
Rs 50,000, regularisation for rescuers
Srinagar, Jun 25: The Gulmarg Gondola has resumed operations after remaining shut for nearly two weeks following a major technical fault, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying the service was restarted only after receiving the required safety certification from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
The Gondola was suspended earlier this month after a gearbox malfunction brought the ropeway to a halt, leaving dozens of cabins stranded mid-air. Around 1,000 tourists were safely evacuated in a large-scale rescue operation involving the Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation’s rescue teams, volunteers, the Army and Police. No injuries were reported.
Speaking after the restoration of services, Omar said the government did not rush the reopening despite the faulty gearbox having been replaced within four to five days of the incident.
“We first received an interim report, after which the OEM inspected the repair work on site. The company thoroughly examined the service and maintenance procedures and certified the system before we allowed the Gondola to resume operations,” he said.
The CM stressed that passenger safety remained the government’s highest priority and that operations were restored only after every required safety protocol had been completed.
He said tourist arrivals in Gulmarg remained largely unaffected during the shutdown, adding that the reopening of the Gondola is expected to further boost visitor numbers in the coming days.
Omar also acknowledged the efforts of the rescue teams that carried out the evacuation during the breakdown. He said that of the nearly 52 cabins stranded on the ropeway, more than 40 were evacuated by the Cable Car Corporation’s own volunteers and rescue personnel, while the Army and Police assisted in evacuating the remaining cabins.
Noting that the contribution of the corporation’s rescue workers often went unnoticed, the Chief Minister announced a reward of Rs 50, 000 for each volunteer in recognition of their efforts during the operation.
He also said several rescue team members have already been regularised and expressed hope that the remaining volunteers would also be considered in due course.
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Asia’s highest cable car projects and a major attraction for tourists visiting Kashmir, resumed services after the completion of all technical inspections and safety clearances.
