Raipur: Navratri celebrations turned tragic for many as a ropeway cable snapped at the Khallari Mata temple in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district on Sunday.
One woman died and 17 others were injured during the Navratri rush. Five of the injured were referred to Raipur hospitals for advanced treatment, with one of them reported to be in critical condition.
The popular hill shrine, located 3,000 feet above ground, sees heavy footfall during Navratri, when hundreds of devotees use the ropeway to access the temple.
On Sunday, a ropeway trolley carrying devotees crashed while descending from the hilltop temple around 10 am.
According to eyewitnesses, the trolley suddenly lost support and plunged from a height of several hundred metres, triggering panic among devotees who screamed and scrambled for safety.
Rescue teams and local authorities rushed to the spot soon after the incident, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The ropeway service has been suspended until further notice.
The mishap has raised serious concerns over maintenance and safety checks of such facilities which are regularly used by the public, and more during peak pilgrimage periods like Navratri.
An investigation has been launched, and officials said it will be examined whether negligence or technical faults led to the collapse.
