Tragedy at Pavagadh: 6 Dead as Cargo Ropeway Snaps at Gujarat Hill Temple

A tragic accident at the renowned Pavagadh Hill temple in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district claimed the lives of six people on Saturday afternoon after the cable of a cargo ropeway snapped, causing a trolley to crash to the ground . The incident occurred around 3:30 pm when the ropeway, which was being used to transport construction materials for ongoing renovation work at the Shaktipeeth site, malfunctioned and fell from its fourth tower .

Police have identified the victims, who included ropeway operators, a security guard, and other workers associated with the temple’s facilities . The deceased hailed from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir . According to officials, the passenger ropeway that ferries pilgrims to the Kalika Mata Temple had been shut due to bad weather, but the goods ropeway remained operational for the construction activities .

The Panchmahal district administration has launched a high-level inquiry to determine the exact cause of the cable snapping . Officials are investigating whether the trolley was overloaded or if there were critical lapses in maintenance and safety checks . Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Haresh Dudhat confirmed that an accidental death case has been registered and a thorough probe is underway to ascertain if negligence was a factor .

The Pavagadh ropeway, first established in 1986, is a key piece of infrastructure for the millions of pilgrims who visit the Kalika Mata Temple, located within the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The accident has cast a shadow over the popular pilgrimage site, prompting immediate rescue and relief operations by police and fire brigade teams