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.

“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 told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“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.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but both claim the territory in its entirety.