A tragic accident at the Khallari Mata Temple in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district left one woman dead and 17 people injured after a ropeway cable snapped during the Navratri rush on Sunday.
The incident caused panic at the popular hill shrine, located about 3,000 feet above ground, as devotees had been arriving in large numbers since early morning for festival prayers.
According to initial reports, the ropeway – used by pilgrims to access the temple atop the hill – collapsed midway, causing cabins to fall and leaving passengers injured. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people scrambled for safety after the sudden failure.
The temple is a well-known tourist and religious site, drawing heavy footfall especially during Navratri, when daily pilgrim numbers surge significantly.
Officials confirmed that 17 people were injured in the accident. One woman died due to her injuries, while five of the injured were referred to hospitals in Raipur for advanced treatment. At least one of them is reported to be in critical condition.
Others were treated locally and discharged after primary care.
The exact cause of the ropeway failure is still unknown, and authorities have launched an investigation. The incident has raised serious concerns over maintenance standards and safety checks, especially during peak pilgrimage periods like Navratri.
Officials said the probe will examine whether negligence or technical faults led to the collapse, even as rescue and relief operations were carried out at the site.
