Srinagar, Sept. 15 -- The Gulmarg Gondola, Asia's highest aerial tramway in North Kashmir's Baramulla district near the LoC and a major tourist attraction visited by thousands every week, was closed on Monday for inspection and maintenance work. Officials said services would remain suspended till September 17.

An official of the J&K Cable Car Corporation said the shutdown was part of routine maintenance and inspection work to ensure visitors' safety. The cable car suffered a snag on May 24, leaving more than 300 tourists stranded mid-air for hours in 65 cabins and prompting a massive seven-hour, multi-agency rescue operation involving teams of the J&K Cable Car Corporation, Army, police and other agencies.

The authorities subsequently s...