Gandhinagar- Six people were killed and four others injured on Saturday when a ropeway trolley carrying construction materials for renovation at the famous Pavagadh temple in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district snapped mid-air and crashed, officials said.
The trolley was being used to transport building supplies and kitchen items for the temple’s Annakshetra (community kitchen) when the supporting cable broke, sending it plummeting down the hillside.
Panchmahal Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Hareshbhai Dudhat confirmed the fatalities, adding that the bodies had been shifted to Halol Referral Hospital. District officials, local MLAs, and senior police officers rushed to the site after the tragedy.
Rescue operations were undertaken by police and fire brigade teams, who cordoned off the area to ensure safety.
The accident took place at the revered Shaktipeeth on Pavagadh hill, a major pilgrimage site standing 800 metres above sea level. Devotees usually reach the temple by climbing nearly 2,000 steps or via a passenger cable car.
Authorities clarified that the passenger ropeway service had already been suspended earlier in the day due to bad weather. The mishap involved only the ropeway system designated for transporting goods, not pilgrims.
An inquiry has been ordered to determine if safety lapses caused the cable to snap. Government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel said: “There were two ropeways – one for goods and one for passengers. The wire of the goods ropeway has snapped.” He added that a committee has been formed to investigate, and the government will take further action after receiving the preliminary report.
With inputs from IANS