Four years after the devastating ropeway accident at Trikut Hills in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district, the criminal investigation into the tragedy remains unfinished, raising growing concerns over accountability, delayed legal proceedings, and the pace of justice for the victims’ families.
The accident took place on April 10, 2022, when the ropeway service at the popular tourist destination came to a sudden halt mid-operation, leaving 59 passengers stranded hundreds of feet above the ground.
What followed was one of the most challenging rescue operations in the state’s recent history. Teams from the district administration, the National Disaster Response Force, Army, and Air Force worked continuously for nearly 46 hours to evacuate those trapped in cable cars suspended in the air.
While the majority of passengers were rescued safely, the incident claimed three lives. One person died during the initial accident, while two others lost their lives during the prolonged rescue mission, triggering widespread outrage and demands for strict action against those responsible.
Soon after the tragedy, an FIR was lodged by the son of one of the deceased victims against Damodar Ropeways and Infra Limited and its officials under provisions related to causing death by negligence and negligent handling of machinery. Ropeway site operator Vineet Sinha was specifically named in the complaint.
Although the investigation was initiated by Mohanpur police, progress remained slow. Nearly two years later, in May 2024, the investigating officer summoned the company’s Managing Director, Aditya Chamaria, for questioning.
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However, he reportedly did not appear before investigators, and no strong legal action was taken to compel his attendance.
Police eventually filed a charge sheet in June 2024 against site manager Vineet Sinha, stating that allegations against both the manager and the company owner were found to be true.
Sinha later surrendered before the court and secured bail. However, the charge sheet invoked only bailable sections of the law, prompting criticism from legal experts who argued that the seriousness of the disaster had been diluted.
Court records show that despite multiple hearings in the Deoghar court since 2024, the case has seen little substantive progress. Proceedings reportedly remain stuck at the stage of appearance of the accused, while the supplementary investigation into wider accountability is yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and repeatedly sought status reports from the state government.
Although the court later disposed of the PIL in March 2025 after noting that compensation had been paid and the operator blacklisted, concerns over criminal liability persisted.
In parallel administrative action, the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation blacklisted the ropeway operator for five years and imposed a penalty exceeding Rs 9 crore, citing negligence, technical failures, and poor operational standards.
A government inquiry also flagged serious lapses in safety protocols and inadequate training of personnel.
The matter gained further significance after the Supreme Court of India, in a February 2026 order, upheld both the blacklisting and financial penalty imposed on the company.
Despite these findings, victims’ families continue to wait for closure. Legal observers said a comprehensive and time-bound investigation fixing responsibility on all concerned officials remains essential to ensure justice in one of Jharkhand’s deadliest ropeway disasters.
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