Deoghar ropeway rescue operation ends; woman falls to her death

Jharkhand High Court asks govt. to file affidavit on reasons for mishap, rescue mission

Attempts to rescue cable car passengers stranded for over 46 hours in Jharkhand's Deoghar district ended with a tragedy on Tuesday as a 60-year-old woman fell to her death as she was being winched up from a helicopter, raising the toll to three.

However all other tourists, numbering 60, stranded since Sunday 4 p.m. in cable cars after a ropeway malfunction which resulted in trolleys colliding at Trikut hills, were successfully evacuated by Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters.

Fourteen of the last remaining 15 tourists, who were trapped mid-air for more than 40 hours, were rescued during the day.

"Of the remaining 15 people trapped in cable cars overnight, 14 were rescued while a woman fell off the chopper during the course of the operation," Additional Director General of Police R.K. Mallick told PTI.

Deoghar Civil Surgeon C.K. Shahi said the woman, identified as 60-year-old Shobha Devi, was declared dead on being taken to a hospital. It was unclear whether the harness on her or the rope which was being used to pull her snapped, resulting in her fall and eventual death.

Mr. Mallick said the rescued people were sent to hospitals, where they would be examined. Three persons have died so far, including two tourists who fell to their death as they were being winched up from helicopters on Monday and Tuesday during botched rescue attempts, while 12 injured are undergoing treatment at hospitals.

The rescue operation was conducted jointly by the IAF, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the district administration. Food and water were supplied to the stranded people using drones.