DGP Nalin Prabhat confirms safe evacuation of 320 stranded tourists after Gulmarg Gondola rescue operation ends

GULMARG, May 25, 2026 :- A major rescue operation at the popular resort of Gulmarg concluded successfully after a technical fault forced several gondola cabins carrying tourists to remain suspended mid-air.

Jammu and Kashmir Police Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately 1:20 PM, prompting an immediate mobilization of emergency services.

Station House Officer Gulmarg and Special Operations Group teams were the first responders to reach the site immediately after the breakdown occurred to initiate relief efforts.

The high-altitude rescue mission was expanded rapidly as State Disaster Response Force teams were initially pressed into service to handle the crisis. To bolster the operation in the challenging terrain, eight mountain rescue teams and nine Snow Leopard rescue units joined the efforts.

Personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force, Indian Army, and National Disaster Response Force jointly conducted the evacuation mission, braving continuous rain and difficult weather conditions in the mountainous area.

All 320 stranded tourists were evacuated safely by the joint teams after hours of intense effort. Officials stated that nearly 45 physically weak and unfit individuals were carefully shifted using stretchers during the final stages of the operation.

Authorities also deployed All-Terrain Vehicles to strengthen the rescue efforts and rapidly transport emergency teams across the rugged terrain, ensuring that no casualties occurred during the technical emergency.