Gulmarg Gondola reopens after brief precautionary closure

Srinagar, Oct 25: The Gulmarg Gondola ropeway service in the resort town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district was restored after being temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure following the killings of four people, including two soldiers, in a terror attack, officials said on Friday.

Two soldiers and two Army porters were killed in the attack on Thursday while another porter and a soldier were injured. Terrorists attacked a vehicle of the force six kilometres from Gulmarg, a tourist hotspot.

The ropeway service has been restored after being shut for a few hours in the morning following Thursday’s terror attack, the officials said.

The shutdown was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of tourists and staff, they added.

The gondola, known for attracting tourists year-round with stunning views and unique mountain experiences, resumed operations after security assessments and measures were completed, they further said.

The Gulmarg Gondola is the second-longest and second-highest cable car service in the world. A two-stage lift ferries people to and from the Kongdoori mountain, near the Apharwat peak at a height of 13,976 feet.

The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 8,694 feet to Kongdoori station in the bowl-shaped Kongdoori Valley. The second stage of the ropeway takes tourists and skiers to a height of 13,058 feet on the Kongdoori mountain.