Gujarat, India – At least six people were killed on Saturday when a cargo ropeway trolley carrying construction material fell from a height after its supporting cables snapped in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district, local authorities confirmed.
The incident took place at the Shaktipeeth site on Pavagadh Hill, a popular religious and tourist destination in western India. The ropeway trolley, which was being used to transport construction supplies for ongoing development work, suddenly gave way, plunging to the ground.
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Senior district official Ajay Dahiya said that five workers were inside the trolley at the time of the collapse. All of them lost their lives on the spot. Another victim, who was standing nearby on the ground, was struck and killed by the falling structure. “All the deceased were construction workers engaged at the site,” Dahiya told reporters.
The Pavagadh temple is situated at a height of around 800 metres, with pilgrims either choosing to climb nearly 2,000 steps or use cable cars to reach the summit. However, officials said the public ropeway had been closed since morning due to inclement weather, preventing pilgrims from using it at the time of the accident.
Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene immediately after the collapse. The bodies of the victims were recovered and sent for postmortem examination. Authorities confirmed that no devotees or tourists were involved, as the cargo ropeway is reserved exclusively for transporting materials and workers.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the mishap. Technical experts will examine whether the accident was due to mechanical failure, poor maintenance, or negligence by the operators. “An inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause and to fix responsibility on those accountable,” Dahiya said.
The Pavagadh temple, one of Gujarat’s most important pilgrimage destinations located about 150 kilometers from Ahmedabad, attracts thousands of visitors daily. The tragedy has once again highlighted safety concerns surrounding ropeway operations in India, which are commonly used in hilly and religious sites for both pilgrims and construction activities.
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