Srinagar, June 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a five-member high-level committee to enquire into the circumstances that led to the technical malfunction of the Gulmarg Gondola on May 25, 2026.
According to Government Order No. 1065-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated June 10, 2026 as per news agency sanction has been accorded to the constitution of the committee headed by Managing Director, KPDCL, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS.
The committee includes Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, JKAS; Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority, Tariq Hussain, JKAS; Superintending Engineer Mechanical & Hospital Circle Kashmir Javeed Ahmad Tantray; and Executive Engineer Mechanical & Hospital Division Baramulla Mohammad Ismail Chechi as members.
The committee has been tasked with establishing the complete sequence of events leading to the malfunction of the cable car system and examining all relevant facts, records, reports, communications and operational details connected with the incident.
As per the terms of reference, the panel will conduct a detailed technical examination of the malfunction, including investigation of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, braking, communication, control and safety systems associated with the operation of the Gondola.
The committee will also scrutinize operational logs, fault indications, monitoring systems, inspection reports, maintenance records and other technical documentation to determine the cause and extent of the failure.
The order further directs the panel to review existing operational procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintenance protocols, inspection mechanisms and safety procedures governing the Gondola system and assess whether these were being followed at the time of the incident.
The committee has also been asked to examine whether any operational lapse, negligence, communication gap, supervisory failure, procedural deficiency, human error or administrative shortcoming contributed directly or indirectly to the malfunction.
Additionally, the panel will assess compliance with statutory provisions, technical standards, safety regulations, OEM guidelines, inspection requirements and maintenance schedules prescribed for operation of the cable car system.
The enquiry body will evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of emergency response measures, including evacuation procedures, passenger safety arrangements, communication systems, inter-agency coordination and overall crisis management mechanisms adopted during and after the incident.
The government has authorised the committee to identify responsibility wherever warranted for any act of omission, commission, negligence or procedural violation by any individual, contractor, agency or authority associated with the functioning, maintenance, operation or supervision of the Gondola.
The panel has also been asked to recommend immediate corrective measures for safe operation and restoration of the system, besides suggesting long-term technical, operational, administrative and safety-related reforms to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future.
The committee has been empowered to inspect the site, examine records and documents, interact with concerned officers, technical personnel, operators and contractors, and seek expert opinion wherever necessary.
The government has directed the committee to submit its report, along with findings and recommendations, to the Tourism Department within 10 days from the issuance of the order. (JKNS)
