‘Reflects courage, swiftness, professionalism of disaster response agencies’: Rajnath Singh lauds Gulmarg Gondola rescue ops

NEW DLEHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday lauded the successful efforts of security and rescue teams that were involved in the rescue of stranded tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg after a technical malfunction left several Gondola car cabins stranded mid-air for around seven hours.

In an ‘X’ post, the Defence Minister said that the joint rescue team, which comprised the Indian Army, J&K Police, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration, carried out the operation with efficiency and resolve. He further considered the success of rescue operation as a reflection of swiftness, professionalism, courage, and coordination of country’s disaster response agencies.

“The successful rescue of 300 tourists stranded in cable cars in Gulmarg reflects the swiftness, professionalism, courage, and coordination of our disaster response agencies. A joint rescue team comprising the Indian Army, J&K Police, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration carried out the challenging operation with efficiency and resolve. The nation acknowledges and applauses the dedication and service of all personnel involved in this rescue operation,” the ‘X’ post from Singh said.

𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐒 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠

Following a major malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola system that left 65 cabins stranded, the #IndianArmy rescue team, led by the… pic.twitter.com/Wl4bwP4jX8

— Army Training Command, Indian Army (@artrac_ia) May 25, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah too lauded the swift and coordinated efforts of disaster response agencies after a major rescue operation successfully evacuated hundreds of tourists stranded in cable cars at the Gulmarg Gondola in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Shah wrote,” Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir. The disaster response teams comprising the SDRF, NDRF, Army personnel, local police, and the administration swung into action and rescued all the passengers stranded in 65 cable cars through a six-hour-long operation. The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill.”

Around 300 tourists stranded in cable cars were safely evacuated after a nearly six-hour coordinated effort by multiple agencies in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg on Monday.

The large-scale rescue effort was launched after a technical malfunction led to several Gondola cabins being stranded. Officials said that out of 65 cable cars, 62 were affected, while three were not in operation at the time. Of these, 52 cabins were occupied, and 10 were empty.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 286 people were safely evacuated in total, with 148 rescued from one side of the system and 138 from the other as operations continued in phases. Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat said that a massive multi-agency rescue operation successfully evacuated stranded tourists after a technical snag developed in the Gulmarg Gondola. (ANI)