The Hindu : Front Page : 4 die as Palani ropecar falls into gorge

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Monday, Aug 27, 2007
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4 die as Palani ropecar falls into gorge

Staff Reporter

The deceased include two Aavin officials; two grievously injured

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

FATAL FALL: The mangled remains of the ropecar that slipped from the ropeway at the Palani temple on Sunday.

PALANI: Four pilgrims were killed on the spot when one of the ropecars slipped from the iron ropeway and fell into a gorge at the Palani Sri Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple and smashed into pieces here on Sunday.

The deceased were Aavin General Manager (Chennai)Subramani, (54), his wife Amudha, (45), his daughter Nitya (25) and Aavin (Dindigul unit) Managing Director Vadamalaichetti.

The grievously injured Ravikumar, son of Subramani, and P. Deepa were referred to Coimbatore hospital.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Palani Government Hospital for post-mortem. The accident took place when the ropecar was climbing up.

Eyewitnesses said the ropecar that slipped from the iron ropeway crashed into a car behind it, and fell into a 250-foot-deep gorge and crashed into the rocks. Ravikumar and Deepa were in the other car. The police suspect that the clamp holding the car to the ropeway gave way, they said.

Several pilgrims trapped in other cabins were brought down by fire service personnel using rope ladders. Pilgrims waiting to take the ropecar on the hill temple were winched down.

Several passengers opted to take the steps to come down.

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