Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Sept 6: A tragic accident at the Pavagadh temple in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district claimed the lives of six people and left four others injured after a ropeway trolley used for transporting construction materials snapped mid-air and crashed on Saturday.
Officials said the trolley was ferrying building supplies and kitchen items for the temple’s Annakshetra (community kitchen) when the supporting cable gave way, causing the trolley to plummet down the hillside.
Panchmahal Deputy SP Dr. Hareshbhai Dudhat confirmed the fatalities and said the deceased were shifted to Halol Referral Hospital.
The accident occurred at the Pavagadh Shaktipeeth, a prominent pilgrimage site perched nearly 800 metres above sea level, where renovation work is currently ongoing. Thousands of devotees visit the temple daily, either trekking up 2,000 steps or using the ropeway system, which includes separate lines for passengers and cargo.
Authorities clarified that the public ropeway had been shut earlier due to poor weather conditions, and the accident involved only the goods trolley, not pilgrims.
Rescue teams from the police and fire department rushed to the scene, while senior officials including the District Collector and local MLAs arrived to oversee relief efforts.
Government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel stated: “The ropeway for carrying materials suffered a cable snap. A committee has been formed by the Collector to investigate. We are awaiting the preliminary report to determine further action.”
The government has launched an official inquiry to assess whether safety lapses or equipment failure led to the cable snapping incident.