Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 26th March 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a woman and injuries to 16 others in a ropeway accident in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh

Issues notices to Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and Mahasamund Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The report to include the status of health of the victims as well as compensation, if any, paid to the NoK of the deceased and to the injured persons

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a woman died and sixteen others were injured in a ropeway accident while returning from the Khallari Mata Temple in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh on 22nd March 2026. Reportedly, the rope wire suddenly broke and the trolley carrying the devotees fell down.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh and Superintendent of Police, Mahasamund district, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of health of the injured as well as compensation, if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured.

According to the media report, carried on 22nd March 2026, the woman died on the spot and the sixteen injured people were immediately rescued with the assistance of locals by the police and admitted to the Community Health Centre at Bagbahara. From here, eight critically injured persons were referred to Raipur for better treatment.

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