2 dead, many injured as cable cars in Jharkhand ropeway collide

Ranchi: At least two people were killed and several are injured after a couple of cable cars in a ropeway collided with each other at Trikut hills, close to Baba Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand's Deoghar district on Sunday, a PTI report mentioned.

According to officials, 48 people are still stuck in at least 12 cabins in the ropeway and a rescue operation with the help two Indian Air Force helicopters is underway.

As per the initial investigation, the incident looked like it occurred due to a technical snag, which resulted in the collision of cable cars. The exact cause, however, is yet to be ascertained.

The ropeway manager and other employees fled the spot after the incident, news agency PTI reported.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was sent to the spot for the rescue operation, Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said.

Both the DC and Superintendent of Police Subhash Chandra Jat are monitoring the rescue operation from the spot.

Mr Bhajantri said that local villagers are also assisting the NDRF in the rescue operation.

"The situation is completely under control. Some people are still stuck in the cable cars in the ropeway, and they are being rescued. All tourists are being evacuated safely," the DC said, while appealing to people to not spread rumours.

Godda MP Nishikant Dubey said that he had informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh and requested for deployment of NDRF teams.

"I thank the Union Home Minister for taking cognisance of the matter immediately," he said.

Jharkhand Tourism says that Trikut ropeway is India's highest vertical ropeway.

The ropeway, situated around 20 km from Baba Baidyanath Temple, is around 766-metres-long, while the hill is 392-metres-high.

There are 25 cabins in the ropeway. Four people can sit in each cabin.