A tragic ropeway accident during the Navratri festival claimed the life of a 28-year-old woman and left six others injured in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred shortly after 10 am at the Khallari Mata temple in Khallari (Bhimkhoj) village under Bagbahra tehsil, when a ropeway trolley carrying devotees suddenly crashed while descending from the hilltop. According to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Namita Markole, the accident was triggered after the trolley’s cable snapped mid-descent.
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The trolley, which had seven passengers on board—though earlier reports suggested eight—plunged from an estimated height of 200 to 300 feet, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.
The deceased has been identified as Ayushi Satkar (28), a resident of Raipur, who died on the spot. Among the injured are her husband, Rishabh Dhavre (29), and a minor relative, Chhayansh Dhavre (16). Other injured individuals include Govind Swami (47), Namita Swami (48), and two minors—Kushmita Swami (10) and Manshvi Godaria (12).
All six injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital, with four later referred to Raipur for advanced treatment.
Following the mishap, another trolley carrying around 10 passengers that had just begun its ascent was immediately brought back to the base station. While those onboard experienced a strong jolt, no serious injuries were reported.
The ropeway service is a popular means for devotees to access the temple, which sits at an elevation of approximately 1,100 feet. Alternatively, visitors can climb nearly 900 steps to reach the shrine. The victims had reportedly visited the temple to offer prayers during the ongoing nine-day Navratri celebrations.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “extremely tragic and painful.” In a statement, he assured that all necessary arrangements were being made for the injured and ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.
“As soon as information about the accident was received, instructions were issued to ensure proper treatment for the injured. A thorough inquiry will be conducted, and those found responsible will not be spared,” he said, while also praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Authorities have launched a formal probe into the incident to determine the exact cause of the cable failure.
Notably, this is not the first such mishap in the state. Last year, a BJP leader was injured when a ropeway trolley crashed from a low height near the Bamleshwari Devi hill shrine in Rajnandgaon district, raising concerns over ropeway safety in the region.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
