Am proud of my team: MD JK Cable Car Corporation
Lauds Gondola Rescue Personnel for their tireless efforts
Srinagar: A day after the successful rescue operation at the Gulmarg Gondola following a major technical snag, Managing Director of the J&K Cable Car Corporation, Syed Qamar Sajjad, on Tuesday praised the rescue personnel for their professionalism and dedication, saying he was proud of the manner in which the teams handled the emergency and ensured the safe evacuation of all stranded tourists.
Speaking to reporters after the operation, Sajjad said engineering experts are currently examining the exact cause of the technical malfunction that led to the suspension of Gondola services on Monday.
“Our engineering team will jointly examine the reason behind the technical snag. Once we are fully satisfied that the system is technically fit, feasible and completely safe for tourists, only then will operations resume,” he said.
He said the assessment and repair process may take one to two days, during which technical teams will determine whether the gearbox requires complete replacement or only repairs and spare part changes.
“It will take at least one to two days to identify the exact cause of the snag and decide whether machinery replacement or spare part changes are needed,” he added.
Sajjad said the corporation had two options after the malfunction occurred — either repairing the gearbox or replacing it entirely. Although a spare gearbox was available, replacing it would have taken nearly 12 to 24 hours, prompting authorities to prioritise vertical rescue operations to ensure the safety of tourists.
“We had a spare gearbox, but replacing it would have consumed considerable time. Therefore, we decided to proceed with vertical rescue operations so that all tourists could be evacuated safely at the earliest,” he said.
The MD said the rescue operation was carried out smoothly with coordinated efforts from the rescue teams, district administration, police and SDRF.
“In total, there were 63 cabins, including one trolley cabin. Nearly 62 cabins were carrying around 280 passengers. Our six rescue teams worked tirelessly and succeeded in rescuing all tourists safely,” he said.
He added that all stranded tourists had been evacuated safely by around 8 pm on Monday and no injuries were reported during the operation.
“All tourists are safe. Our rescue teams proved their capability and professionalism during this emergency. I am proud of my employees who performed exceptionally during the rescue mission,” Sajjad said.
Responding to questions regarding rescue preparedness, he said the Gondola already has an operational rescue mechanism in place, which enabled authorities to complete the evacuation in time.
“If we did not have the required rescue systems and equipment, such a massive operation could not have been completed so quickly and smoothly,” he said.
He, however, admitted that there is always scope for improvement and said the corporation is planning to procure advanced rescue systems for future emergencies.
“We recently held discussions within the Cable Car Corporation regarding the latest rescue systems, and proposals are being examined. However, the present mechanism has already proved capable of handling emergencies effectively,” he said.
Sajjad also appreciated the contribution of casual labourers and employees associated with the corporation, saying many of them have been serving for nearly a decade and play an important role in daily operations, including ticketing, scanning, maintenance and mechanical assistance.
“The corporation values every human resource working here. Our administration and board fully recognise the contribution and welfare of all employees,” he added. (KNS)
