Chhattisgarh: Ropeway Horror at Temple Claims Life, Injures 16

Heartbreak enveloped Khallari Mata Temple in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund after a ropeway trolley catastrophically failed, resulting in a woman’s death and injuries to 16 pilgrims. Occurring during return from worship on March 22, the cable snapped, sending the cabin crashing onto unforgiving rocks.

Pandemonium reigned as the trolley tumbled, injuring passengers grievously upon impact. Onlookers’ wails mixed with urgent calls for help, spurring a rapid response from authorities and civilians who evacuated the site using personal cars.

The injured roster included youngsters and octogenarians; four in grave condition were helicoptered to Raipur, others stabilized at Bagbahra CHC. Eyewitness accounts paint a vivid picture of terror amid the devout gathering.

Responding decisively, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai shared his anguish online, condoling the family and beseeching divine solace. He instructed seamless medical support and a forensic-level probe, declaring on X: ‘This tragedy wounds us deeply; accountability is certain.’

Such ropeways are lifelines for remote temple accesses, yet this event spotlights potential oversights in inspections. Amid probes into mechanical faults, the administration grapples with crowd management challenges. As Khallari Mata’s followers pray for recovery, this serves as a clarion call for enhanced safety engineering and rigorous oversight to protect sacred pilgrimages henceforth.