SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a 5-member committee to ascertain and establish the complete sequence of events leading to the malfunctioning of cable car gondola system in Gulmarg.
On May 25 more than 300 tourists were stranded in the gondola for over 8 hours following reports of a technical glitch. The tourists were later rescued following a combined operation carried out by administration, police and army.
As per the order issued by the General Administration the committee will constitute of Mahmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS, MD, KPDCL as chairman.
Vikas Gupta, JKAS, Director Tourism, Jammu, Tariq Hussain, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Development Authority, Javeed Ahmad Tantray, I/c Superintending Engineer, Mechanical & Hospital Circle Kashmir and Mohammad Ismail Chechi, Executive Engineer, Mechanical & Hospital Div. Baramulla as members.
The committee will ascertain and establish the complete sequence of events leading to the malfunctioning/technical failure of the cable carl gondola system, including the circumstances immediately preceding, during, and subsequent to the incident.
They will examine all relevant facts, records, reports, communications, and operational details necessary for arriving at a clear understanding of the incident.
The committee will also conduct a detailed technical examination of the malfunction and investigate the nature, cause, and extent of the failure, including examination of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, braking, communication, control, and safety systems associated with the operation of the cable carl gondola system.
The committee will further examine operational logs, fault indications, monitoring systems, alarms, inspection reports, maintenance records, and any other technical documentation relevant to the incident.
They will also review the existing operational procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintenance protocols, inspection mechanisms, and safety procedures governing the functioning of the cable carl gondola system and assess whether the prescribed procedures and protocols were being adhered to at the relevant point of time.
Also, they will examine whether any operational lapse, negligence, procedural deficiency, communication gap, supervisory failure, human error, or administrative shortcoming contributed directly or indirectly to the occurrence of the incident.
The committee will assess compliance with the applicable statutory provisions, technical standards, safety regulations, manufacturer/OEM guidelines, inspection requirements, certification norms, and maintenance schedules prescribed for operation of the cable carl gondola system and determine whether any deviation or noncompliance existed.
They will evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the emergency response measures undertaken during and after the incident, including emergency communication systems, evacuation procedures, passenger safety protocols, coordination among concerned agencies, and overall crisis management arrangements.
Also identify identify responsibility, wherever warranted, for any act of omission, commission, negligence, procedural violation, or failure on the part of any individual, agency, contractor, or authority associated with the functioning, operation, maintenance, supervision, or administration of the cable carl gondola system.
They will further recommend immediate corrective measures required for ensuring safe operation and restoration of the cable carlgondola system, as well as long-term technical, operational, administrative, and safety-related measures necessary to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future.
They will examine any other matter incidental or related to the incident which it may consider relevant for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive enquiry and submitting a complete report.
They will also inspect he site, examine records and documents, interact with concerned officers, technical personnel, operators, contractors, and other stakeholders, and seek expert opinion or technical assistance, wherever considered necessary for the conduct of the enquiry.
The Committee shall submit its report, along with findings and recommendations, to the Tourism Department, within l0 days from the date of issuance of the order.
