In a tragic ropeway accident, a cable trolley carrying devotees up the Khallari temple hill in the Mahasamund district of Raipur snapped on Sunday. The trolley crashed down, killing a young woman from the city. Reports suggest that at least 16 others were injured, some critically.
The mishap occurred around mid-morning when the temple was packed with pilgrims who had gathered for the Chaitra Navratri festival. Witnesses said that the trolley was moving steadily along the cable when it gave way without warning. The trolley fell with a loud thud, which triggered panic among the thousands gathered at the hilltop shrine.
By evening, police had registered a criminal case against the Kolkata-based firm operating the ropeway and two of its local staff members. The complaint was filed by the Khallari Devi Trust, and the FIR was lodged under sections 173, 289, and 125(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with negligence as the primary charge.
The injured were rushed to the district hospital in Mahasamund. Those with critical injuries were later shifted to the MMI Hospital in Raipur. By late night, eight of the injured had been discharged after primary treatment. They were identified as Harsh Sahu, Chhayans Dhaware, Hemlal Nageshwar, Kulsi Nageshwar, Purvi, Ratan Nageshwar, Amlesh and Tiya. Four others remained in critical condition, while the rest were under observation.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the incident and said a thorough probe would be conducted. “If negligence is found, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said in a statement.
The ropeway, a vital facility for elderly and differently abled pilgrims, has now been shut. The administration has ordered a detailed investigation into the maintenance and safety records of the system.
The relatives of the deceased woman said that they had come to the temple to offer prayers like hundreds of others. “We never imagined something like this would happen,” a family member said.
Meanwhile, the temple authorities have announced compensation for the deceased and the injured, but questions over safety and maintenance of ropeway facilities in pilgrimage sites in Chhattisgarh are likely to influence the official inquiry.