Srinagar: The Gulmarg gondola will remain suspended for a week following a gearbox malfunction that halted cable car operations on Monday. The snag trapped more than 300 tourists for up to seven hours, causing panic and triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving the Jammu and Kashmir police, the Army, and the State Disaster Response Force. Some tourists were left dangling nearly 500 feet (150 meters) above the ground in cabins suspended along the cable line.
Government Orders Dual Inquiries
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered two parallel investigations into the incident. The first committee, headed by the manager (operations) of the J&K Cable Car Corporation, will investigate the cause of the fault. The second panel will conduct a technical audit of the entire cable car system, which will include an independent assessment by the French engineering firm Pomagalski (POMA). The gondola, commissioned in 1998 as a joint venture between the J&K government and POMA, is among the world's highest ropeways.
Details of the Snag and Repairs
Syed Qamar Sajjad, Managing Director of the cable car corporation, stated: "We detected a snag in the gearbox at Kangdoori. We were in touch with POMA through video conferencing. We had two options: repair the gearbox or replace it with a spare one. The 3.6-tonne spare gearbox will now be installed while the damaged unit will be sent to POMA for servicing. All this will take about a week."
The first phase of the gondola comprises 63 cabins, each with a capacity of six passengers, and transports tourists to Kongdori at an altitude of 8,530 feet. The second phase, with 34 cabins, operates from Kongdori to Apharwat, reaching an altitude of 12,293 feet. The snag developed in the first phase, leading to the suspension of operations in both stages for safety reasons.
Political and Technical Reactions
Farooq Ahmad Shah, National Conference legislator from Tangmarg (where the gondola is located), said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered a comprehensive technical audit. The cable car undergoes daily and weekly maintenance assessments, in addition to an annual POMA evaluation. "Such a snag has never occurred in the past 28 years. The gearbox failure should not be viewed as a maintenance issue. That is why a POMA assessment is necessary," said Shah, who has previously served as Managing Director of the cable car corporation.
