Gandhinagar: A tragic accident struck Gujarat’s Panchmahal district on Saturday when a ropeway trolley carrying construction materials for renovation work at the revered Pavagadh temple snapped mid-air, killing at least six people and injuring four others.

Officials said the goods trolley, used to ferry building materials and kitchen supplies for the temple’s Annakshetra (community kitchen), plunged down the hillside after its supporting cable broke.

Panchmahal Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Hareshbhai Dudhat confirmed the casualties and said the bodies had been shifted to Halol Referral Hospital. District Collector, senior police officers, and local legislators immediately rushed to the site.

Police and fire brigade teams carried out rescue and relief operations, cordoning off the area to prevent further mishaps.

The accident occurred at the Pavagadh Shaktipeeth, a centuries-old shrine perched about 800 metres high and among Gujarat’s most popular pilgrimage destinations. Devotees typically climb nearly 2,000 steps or use a passenger ropeway to reach the temple.

Officials clarified that the public ropeway service had been suspended earlier in the day due to bad weather, and only the goods trolley was operational when the mishap took place.

Government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel confirmed the details, stating, “There were two ropeways – one for carrying goods and the other for passengers. The wire of the ropeway carrying goods snapped.”

A committee has been formed by the district administration to probe the incident. “We will wait for the preliminary report, on the basis of which the government will decide the next steps,” Patel said.

The large-scale renovation of the Pavagadh temple complex has been ongoing, drawing both devotees and workers to the sacred hill. An inquiry will determine whether negligence or safety lapses led to the cable failure that caused the fatal crash.