Five killed in gondola accident in held Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Five people including two children were killed Sunday when a tree fell on a gondola at a ski resort in Indian-held Kashmir, sending a passenger cabin crashing to the ground.

The gondola at Gulmarg is one of the world's highest, ferrying passengers to a height of 4,100 metres (13,450 feet) for panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayas.

Jammu & Kashmir: Five tourists died when a Gondola tower collapsed due to strong winds pic.twitter.com/EdQqcswlUa

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2017

"Unfortunately one of the cabins fell after being hit by a tree. The dead included a couple, two children and a local guide," a local police officer said. "We are trying to get more information. All other tourists are safe."

Gulmarg is the only ski resort in the restive Kashmir region, with tourists also visiting in the off-season for the views.

But visitor numbers have dipped in recent years amid unrest in the strife-torn region, with violence rising since the death of a popular militant leader last year.