Damodar Ropeway Infra's Safety Record Under Scrutiny Following Dongargarh Temple Incident

A recent ropeway accident at the revered Maa Bamleshwari Temple in Dongargarh has raised serious concerns about the safety practices of Damodar Ropeway Infra.

Among the injured was Bharatiya Janata Party State General Secretary Bharat Verma, who sustained severe cervical and hip injuries and has since been referred to Nagpur for specialist treatment. Former Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra, who was also aboard, escaped with minor injuries. The incident has sparked alarm and raised questions about the company's operational standards.

A Troubled History of Safety Lapses

Kolkata-based Damodar Ropeway Infra has faced criticism over its safety record following previous incidents. Notably, in April 2022, a catastrophic accident at Trikut Hills in Deoghar, Jharkhand, led to the deaths of three tourists and left over 60 people stranded mid-air for approximately 46 hours. The rescue operation involved the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, the Air Force, and local administration.

An inquiry by the Jharkhand government found the company guilty of negligence, citing failures in maintenance protocols, inadequate training of personnel, and non-compliance with safety standards. As a result, the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) blacklisted Damodar Ropeway Infra for five years and imposed a fine exceeding Rs 9 crore.

Other incidents include:

- Jammu Ropeway Project (January 2019): During a mock rescue drill before the ropeway's inauguration, a technical issue caused a trolley to tilt, resulting in the deaths of two workers and injuries to four others.

- October 2021 – Savitri Mata Ropeway, Pushkar, Rajasthan: A man fell from a 50-foot height.

- May 2022 – Maihar Ropeway, Satna, Madhya Pradesh: 28 devotees were stranded.

- July 2022 – Surkanda Devi Ropeway, Tehri, Uttarakhand: 60 people, including MLA Kishore Upadhyay, were stuck mid-air for 45 minutes.

- June 2023 – Mata Tekri Ropeway, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh: Six passengers were trapped in swinging cabins for about 90 minutes due to a storm.

The Kerala High Court has also directed the State Government and the consortium, which includes Damodar Ropeway Infra, to submit affidavits addressing safety concerns related to the proposed ropeway project from Pampa to Sannidhanam.

Current Investigations and Future Implications

The ropeway service at Dongargarh, managed by Damodar Ropeway Infra, has been suspended until further notice. Authorities have launched both technical and administrative investigations to determine the cause of the failure. The company has claimed that power fluctuations, specifically low voltage, were responsible for the incident. However, this explanation has been strongly refuted by the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board.

Investigation Underway

In response to the accident, District Collector Dr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure has formed a district-level technical committee to investigate the incident. The committee, which includes officials from the Electricity Board, Public Works Department, and Mechanical Division, has been tasked with inspecting the site and submitting a report within seven days.

Local reports suggest that the ropeway system has frequently been used for transporting construction materials such as cement and gravel, contrary to its intended use for carrying pilgrims. Critics argue that Damodar Ropeway Infra has long neglected routine maintenance and inspections, treating safety checks as a formality rather than a priority.