Pokhara, November 4
The Annapurna Cable Car service in Sarangkot, Pokhara, was disrupted for about an hour on Tuesday evening after seven passengers became trapped in a lift due to a technical fault.
The incident occurred between around 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm on November 3, as tourists were preparing to return after watching the sunset from Sarangkot.
The seven passengers, who were part of the final group preparing to descend to the bottom station near the lakeside, were trapped inside a lift at the station. They included a French family, three Nepalis and a Russian social media influencer with around five million followers.
The passengers reportedly faced increasingly uncomfortable conditions inside the lift, which had no fan or air-conditioning system. The interior became hot and stuffy, while the lights repeatedly went on and off, leaving them in darkness. Poor ventilation made breathing difficult and heightened their fear and distress.
The cable car operator suspended the entire service to prevent further risks. As a result, around 25 other tourists were stranded at the top station.
Staff eventually forced open the lift door and rescued all seven passengers. The stranded tourists were also safely brought down, and regular cable car operations resumed shortly afterwards.
No casualties were reported. However, the incident has raised concerns about the cable car’s safety arrangements, technical preparedness and emergency rescue capacity.
