Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, commended the successful rescue of 300 tourists stranded in cable cars at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, praising the joint operation as a demonstration of India's disaster-response capabilities.

What happened

Tourists were left stranded in cable cars at Gulmarg, the high-altitude ski and tourism destination in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. A joint rescue team comprising the Indian Army, J&K Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the civil administration mobilised swiftly to bring all stranded persons to safety.

Rajnath Singh stated that the operation 'reflects the swiftness, professionalism, courage, and coordination of our disaster response agencies,' and said 'the nation acknowledges and applauds the dedication and service of all personnel involved.'

Context

Gulmarg is home to one of Asia's highest gondola cable-car systems and draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. The terrain — steep, snow-prone, and remote — makes any infrastructure failure a potentially life-threatening emergency requiring specialised response.

Jammu and Kashmir has seen repeated weather-related incidents affecting tourism infrastructure, making the union territory a frequent theatre for India's integrated disaster-response architecture. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 formalised multi-agency coordination for precisely such scenarios.

Policy backdrop

The National Disaster Response Force, constituted in 2006 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was designed for specialised response to natural and man-made disasters and has since conducted numerous joint operations with the Indian Army across Himalayan states. State Disaster Response Forces were established as a complementary tier, enabling faster local mobilisation.

India's integrated model — combining armed forces, central and state disaster forces, and civil administration — has been tested repeatedly in mountain and border regions. Successive governments have emphasised inter-agency drills and rapid mobilisation protocols in high-altitude tourist zones.

Stakeholders and impact

The 300 tourists rescued were the immediate beneficiaries of the operation. The broader tourism ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, which has seen sustained recovery in visitor numbers in recent years, depends heavily on confidence in the safety of its signature attractions, including the Gulmarg Gondola.

Personnel from at least five agencies — the Indian Army, J&K Police, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration — were involved, underlining the depth of coordination required for high-altitude rescue missions.

What's next

The successful rescue is likely to prompt a review by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Jammu and Kashmir administration of safety protocols at cable-car installations and other tourist-site infrastructure. Parliamentary scrutiny of tourist-site safety standards in the union territory and possible announcements on cable-car infrastructure upgrades are among the developments to watch in the coming weeks.