Gondola needs a strict safety audit
The more than 300 tourists will always remember the Monday Gondola ride that turned panicky due to a technical fault the ropeway experienced. The ropeway that has been operational for decades now has very little of such experiences to share. But what happened yesterday was sheer bad luck and maybe a lapse as well.
For years on, the ropeway has emerged as a prime attraction for tourists. Even during lean periods tourists make a beeline to the ropeway making it difficult to even get tickets on time. The rush to experience the ride too provides us an insight as to how valued and cherishing it is for the visitors.
On Monday, nearly 400 tourists were stranded mid-air in Gulmarg when the famed Gondola ropeway suffered a technical snag. Army, police, SDRF and J&K Cable Car Corporation teams evacuated them safely after hours of tense rescue work. No one was hurt. That is relief, but it is not a reassurance.
The Gulmarg Gondola is not just another ride. At 13,780 feet, it is one of the world’s highest operating cable cars and the Valley’s marquee winter attraction. It moves 7,000 people on a peak day and anchors Kashmir’s ski economy.
When it stops, due to a technical snag like that of yesterday, it makes headlines and shakes the trust the ropeway and the destination has earned over the years.
So what went wrong – and what will the probe ordered to get the details reveals- is a matter of discussion for ensuring safe ride for the visitors. But as of now initial reports point to a mechanical fault in Phase 2, between Kongdori and Apharwat.
The system has redundant drives and evacuation protocols, which worked. But 400 people hanging over lush green meadows for hours expose several gaps. The ageing infrastructure can be one which cannot be overlooked.
The Phase 2 line opened in 2005. While cabins were upgraded, critical components like haul ropes, sheaves, and drives face Himalayan stress – sub-zero temps and high UV, wind shear. This aspect is critical to understand the future operations of the ropeway.
Since the ropeway generates huge revenue, its upkeep and maintenance should not be ignored. Global norms call for major overhauls every 15-20 years but that needs to be reassessed.
As the Gondola cabins keep on operating for long hours the higher throughput means shorter maintenance windows and faster wear and tear. This issue needs to be looked into and taken up on priority.
Gulmarg Gondola needs safety upgrade plan besides, an Independent safety audit. The operators cannot let alone be the auditors and the operational staff. It needs much more. The ropeway has become a must experience for all those visiting Kashmir and Gulmarg. This makes safety protocols all the more important and demanding.
Therefore, the system has to be fool proof. What happened on Monday needs to be taken seriously. Mere shifting of blame and issuing statements that reassure the visitors will not help to salvage the damage the ropeway’s safety claims suffered.
Gulmarg Gondola is infrastructure which can develop a snag or a fault, but such events play with the psychology of the visitors. Thankfully, the rescue operations by all stakeholders proved our crisis response can work, but that should not end it. The next step is to ensure that we never need it. Safety on a ropeway is not about avoiding fatalities. It is about avoiding fear.
