Cargo ropeway trolley crashes again at Gujarat's Pavagadh, a year after six deaths

A cargo ropeway trolley operating on the Pavagadh hill in Gujarat has again been involved in a crash, officials said. The incident follows a fatal accident at the same site last year that claimed six lives, raising renewed concerns about the safety of the ropeway system.

State authorities have dispatched emergency teams to the scene and are conducting an initial assessment of the damage. While details of injuries or casualties in the latest crash have not been released, the incident has prompted a temporary suspension of ropeway operations pending a thorough safety audit.

The Gujarat government has announced that a detailed investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the malfunction and to evaluate whether existing maintenance protocols are adequate. Officials have also indicated that they will review the ropeway's design and operational procedures to prevent further mishaps.

Local residents and tourists who rely on the ropeway for access to the historic Pavagadh temple complex have expressed anxiety over the repeated accidents. The authorities have urged the public to avoid the ropeway until it is cleared for safe use.

The incident underscores the broader challenge of ensuring safety in India's growing ropeway infrastructure, especially in heritage and pilgrimage sites where such systems are increasingly used to manage visitor flow.