The famous Gulmarg Ropeway (Gulmarg Gondola) in Jammu and Kashmir suffered a major technical glitch on Monday. As a result, all the ropeway cabins came to a halt mid-air. Approximately 300 tourists were left stranded. Panic ensued among the people; many tourists became distressed, began to weep, and shouted to be brought down.

According to eyewitnesses, an atmosphere of intense fear was particularly evident among the children and the elderly. Upon receiving reports of the incident, special rescue teams were dispatched to the site from Srinagar. The Indian Army is also present at the scene. The Army, Police, and the administration have launched a large-scale rescue operation. Commenting on the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated, "The government is continuously monitoring the situation. All the cabins and the tourists stranded inside them are safe. Trained teams are conducting operations to evacuate the people. There is no need to panic."

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "I am personally monitoring the rescue operation for the tourists stranded in the cable car cabins. I have directed the DGP to visit the incident site. A joint team comprising the Police, Army, SDRF, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is present on the ground."

**The Gulmarg Ropeway: The World's Highest Cable Car System**

The Gulmarg Ropeway is Asia's highest and longest cable car project, and it ranks as the second-largest and highest cable car system in the world. It operates in two phases, ascending from the base of Gulmarg to Kongdoori, and subsequently up to the Apharwat Peak.

From this vantage point, visitors are treated to magnificent views of the snow-capped peaks. The Gulmarg Gondola is counted among the country's most popular tourist destinations, attracting a large influx of visitors during the summer months. However, in the wake of this incident, questions regarding safety standards and maintenance protocols have begun to surface.