Mahasamund (Chhatisgarh): A devastating accident occurred on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Khallari Mata temple in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old woman and injuries to seven others. The incident took place shortly after 10:00 AM as a ropeway trolley was descending from the hilltop shrine to the base. According to district administration officials, the trolley cable suddenly snapped while carrying eight passengers, causing the carriage to plummet.
The deceased has been identified as Ayushi Satkar, a resident of Raipur. The seven other passengers sustained various injuries and were immediately transported to a local hospital for medical attention. The victims had travelled to the Bagbahra area to offer prayers at the temple, a significant pilgrimage site, during the ongoing Navratri festival. The sudden mechanical failure turned a day of religious devotion into a scene of chaos and mourning for the families involved.
Local authorities have launched a high-level investigation into the technical causes of the cable failure. Preliminary reports suggest that the ropeway service, which is heavily utilized by devotees during the festive season, may have faced immense pressure due to the high volume of visitors. The district administration has suspended all ropeway operations at the site indefinitely to allow for a thorough safety audit and to ensure such a lapse does not recur.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep grief over the mishap, extending his condolences to the family of the deceased and directing the district administration to provide the best possible medical care to the injured. The incident has raised serious questions regarding the maintenance and safety protocols of ropeway systems at religious sites across the state, especially during peak festival periods when footfall is at its highest.
