Srinagar, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday appreciated the prompt and coordinated efforts of the Army and Civil Administration in safely rescuing tourists stranded in the higher reaches of Gulmarg following a technical snag in a private helicopter.
Officials said 24 tourists were stranded for over two hours atop Sunshine Peak in Gulmarg after a private helicopter on a joyride developed a technical snag.
Soon after the incident came to light, civil administration swung into action and coordinated with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army.
A rescue team was immediately dispatched to Phase 2 to remain ready for a possible foot march officials said.
The Army helicopters managed to land at the spot, and all tourists were evacuated safely in a two-and-a-half-hour operation, officials said.
All stranded tourists were brought down in a healthy condition.
Defence spokesman said after a technical malfunction developed in civil helicopter that had ferried the tourists to the peak, 24 tourists got stranded amidst rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, dense cloud cover and hazardous mountainous terrain.
“The main effort of the operation was undertaken by Army Aviation pilots and aircrew, who displayed exceptional courage, precision and professional acumen while flying repeatedly through adverse weather, poor visibility and unpredictable mountain conditions to execute precision landings on treacherous snowbound terrain at high altitude,” he said.
The spokesman said braving extreme operational challenges, narrow landing zones and rapidly changing climatic conditions, the team ensured the safe evacuation and extraction of all stranded tourists without casualty.
“The operation stands as a testimony to the professionalism, operational preparedness, seamless inter-agency coordination and unwavering humanitarian commitment of the Indian Army and all associated civil agencies, reaffirming their steadfast resolve towards safeguarding civilian lives even in the most adverse and unforgiving circumstances,” the spokesman said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commended the swift response and close coordination among all agencies involved in the rescue operation, which ensured the safety and well-being of the stranded tourists.
He directed the administration to take all necessary measures to strengthen safety protocols and ensure a safe and secure experience for tourists visiting the region, so as to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
The CM reiterated the government’s commitment towards safeguarding tourists and maintaining high standards of safety at all tourist destinations across Jammu and Kashmir.