On February 5, 2024, during midday hours, the ski lift leading to an altitude of 3040 meters (known as the panoramic lift) suffered a breakdown at the Karakol ski resort. At the time of the incident, numerous skiers and snowboarders were utilizing the lift.
The rescue operation to evacuate stranded tourists commenced only after a delay of 1.5 hours. Faced with the wait, some tourists grew impatient and chose to jump off the chairlifts, resulting in one person sustaining a broken arm.
The rescue operation, which involved lowering tourists using ropes, continued for several hours beyond the ski resort’s usual operating hours.
Eyewitnesses attribute the breakdown to a malfunction of the lift’s motor. Consequently, this specific lift is expected to remain non-operational for the next 7-14 days.