Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 11
Two women tourists were killed while several others were injured after cable cars in a ropeway collided with each other at Trikut hills close to Baba Baidyanath Temple in neighbouring Jharkhand’s Deoghar district.
As per eyewitnesses, 100 people were stuck in at least 12 cabins in the ropeway following the incident. Large number of tourists had gone to enjoy a ropeway trip running between three peaks of Trikuta hills.
As the cable broke, trolleys collided with the rocks killing two on the cable car and injuring over 50 others. Unconfirmed reports said that the cable cars were overloaded that led to the technical snag in the ropeway. A few tourists reportedly jumped in panic and were injured.
The teams of Indian Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and ITBP were pressed into service Sunday evening soon after the incident. The operation was suspended due to bad light that resumed on Monday morning. Meanwhile, the trapped tourists were supplied with water, biscuits today morning. The soaring mercury had made them restless.
Disaster Management Department Secretary Amitabh Kaushal said IAF helicopters were facing difficulties due to topographical problems.
Two helicopters of IAF have started operations to rescue tourists at 5 am on Monday and are evacuating the trapped tourists.
