MHA Asks States To Carry Out Safety Audit Of Ropeway Projects After Jharkhand Accident

The entity managing the ropeway is ordered to maintain a record of all the activities undertaken as part of the maintenance programme.

Tourists commute by gondola lifts of Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani volcanic valley (Representational pic: AFP)

New Delhi: In wake of the ropeway accident in Deoghar, Jharkhand, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued an advisory to all the state governments to carry out a safety audit of each ropeway project.

"The state government must engage an experienced and qualified firm or organisation for carrying out a safety audit of each ropeway project. The entity operating the ropeway must comply with all the issues arising out of the audits," the latest order said.

The entity managing the ropeway is ordered to maintain a record of all the activities undertaken as part of the maintenance programme.

"For each ropeway project, a maintenance manual must be prepared. In addition to the maintainance manual, there should be a maintainance programme so that the safety standards conform to good industry practices. The entity managing the ropeway is ordered to maintain a record of all the activities undertaken as part of the maintainance programme," the order added. 

MHA issues advisory in wake of ropeway accident in Deoghar, Jharkhand.

"Op & maintenance of ropeway projects need to be scrupulously adhered to. State Govt must engage qualified firm for carrying out safety audit. For each ropeway project a maintenance manual must be prepared." pic.twitter.com/cM05JFVTPR

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

Tourists trapped after a ropeway accident on Trikut mountain in Jharkhand's Deoghar district have been rescued after a 46-hour-long rescue operation. However, two people died during the rescue operation.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said in a tweet that a total of 48 people were trapped in this incident, out of which 46 people were rescued and two people died.

त्रिकूट पहाड़ हादसे का रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन पूरा हो चुका है। दुर्भाग्य से इस हादसे में हमने कुछ लोगों को खो दिया। अपनी जान जोखिम में डाल कर लोगों की मदद करने वाले एयरफोर्स, आर्मी, एनडीआरएफ और आईटीबीपी के जवानों तथा प्रशासन को सलाम करता हूँ। शीघ्र ही मामले की उच्चस्तरीय जाँच करा (1/2) pic.twitter.com/FNMplpNIOy

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) April 12, 2022

People were rescued on Monday in a joint operation by Army, Air Force, ITBP, and NDRF. In Deoghar, hundreds of tourists had arrived for the purpose of worshiping and visiting Ramnavami on Sunday. During this, a trolley of ropeway was coming down, which collided with the trolley while going up. During this, many trolleys got stuck above, and 48 people were on board. The accident happened at 4 pm on Sunday. Thereafter the rescue operation was started.

After the accident, the NDRF and police team reached the spot, but it was a difficult task to carry out the rescue operation at an altitude of 2500 feet. After this, the army was called, but according to the need, the help of the Air Force was taken later. The Air Force had deployed two of its helicopters in this operation.

Jharkhand High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the ropeway accident. The court has also issued orders for investigation in this matter. The matter will come up for hearing on April 26. Before this, the state government will have to present a detailed investigation report before the court.