At least six people were killed on Saturday afternoon after a cargo ropeway trolley plunged to the ground when its cables snapped at the Shaktipeeth site on Pavagadh Hill in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district, police said. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the fourth tower of the system.
Inspector General of Police (Godhra-Panchmahal range) Ravindra Asari confirmed the fatalities, saying the victims included three local residents, two people from Kashmir, and one from Rajasthan. “The exact cause of the incident is under investigation,” he added.
Among the deceased were two ropeway operators, two labourers, and two others who happened to be at the site during the mishap.
Authorities said the passenger ropeway, which usually ferries pilgrims to the Kalika Mata Temple, had been suspended due to adverse weather conditions, but the goods ropeway was in operation for construction work.
Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel said the district collector has formed a committee to probe the incident and will submit a preliminary report to the government, after which further action will be taken.
The passenger ropeway is operated and maintained by Usha Breco Limited, which has managed the service since it began in 1986.
Rescue teams from the police and fire brigade, along with district officials, rushed to the spot soon after the collapse. The bodies were recovered and sent for postmortem.
Panchmahal district authorities have launched an inquiry to identify the cause of the cable failure and to assess the overall safety and maintenance of the ropeway system.
Investigators are also looking into whether the trolley was overloaded and if there were lapses in routine inspections.
