The Gulmarg Gondola, Jammu and Kashmir's premier cable car attraction, is set to resume public operations on Tuesday, 2 June, after a week-long suspension triggered by a major technical malfunction on 25 May that left 320 tourists stranded mid-air across 65 cabins, some suspended as high as 500 feet above the ground. Officials confirmed on Sunday that services will restart only after a full expert trial run on Monday clears the system for safety.

What the Trial Run Involves

According to officials, a team of experts will conduct a comprehensive test of the Gondola system on Monday, 1 June, assessing both operational safety and technical performance before any public access is permitted. The Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation had kept the facility closed to tourists from 25 May through 1 June, ordering full refunds on all tickets booked for visit dates within that window.

The May 25 Breakdown and Rescue Operation

The crisis unfolded on 25 May when a technical malfunction brought both phases of the cable car system to a complete halt, trapping 320 visitors in cabins strung across difficult mountainous terrain. A six-hour rescue mission was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities. Emergency teams navigated the terrain using snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), executing a high-risk manual evacuation in poor weather conditions. All passengers were brought to safety without any major injuries reported.

Investigation and Accountability

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ordered an official investigation into the cause of the malfunction. However, as of Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation had yet to formally determine responsibility for the breakdown. The probe is expected to examine both the technical failure and the emergency response protocols. Notably, this incident has raised broader questions about maintenance standards and safety audits at one of India's most visited high-altitude tourist facilities.

Financial and Tourism Impact

The closure came during the peak tourist season at Gulmarg, a renowned ski and adventure resort in Kashmir, and is understood to have caused substantial financial losses to the corporation. Tourism-linked businesses in the area — including hotels, equipment rentals, and local guides — also bore the brunt of the shutdown. The resumption on 2 June is expected to bring relief to the local tourism economy, though the incident's reputational impact on the resort's safety credentials may linger pending the investigation's findings.

With the expert trial scheduled for Monday and public services set to restart Tuesday, all eyes remain on whether the investigation will produce binding safety reforms for the Gondola system going forward.