Man Falls From Helicopter During Doomed Ropeway Accident Rescue Mission, Three Dead

A shocking video captured during a botched mission to rescue tourists trapped in cable cars for up to 46 hours shows a man falling to his death while clinging onto an Indian Army helicopter.

Three people were killed while being rescued from cable cars at Trikut hills after the two trolleys crashed into each other 1,500-feet above the ground due to some technical malfunction on Sunday, April 10.

Around 60 passengers were evacuated by two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters, according to local media reports.

A video captured during the rescue shows a man swinging around wildly as he was winched to one of the rescue helicopters.

People on the ground can be heard clapping and cheering as the man made it to the chopper — but soon gasped in horror as he suddenly plunged down.

The unidentified man was one among three people who died during the doomed rescue mission of the final 15 people who remained trapped until late Tuesday, authorities said.

The fatal falls involved another unidentified tourist and a 60-year-old woman, identified as Shobha Devi, who “fell off the chopper” during the attempted rescue.

"Of the remaining 15 people trapped in cable cars, 14 were rescued while a woman fell off the chopper during the course of the operation," Additional Director General of Police R K Mallick told PTI (Press Trust of India).

12 others were hospitalized for unspecified injuries. Their current conditioon is unknown.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident.

"I have directed all the senior officials to find out the reasons behind the accident and who are accountable for this. A high-level probe will be conducted in the matter and action will be taken accordingly. The state government is keeping a close watch on the situation," Soren said.

An official, who did not wish to be named, said the lease for the firm contracted to run the cable car ride ended months prior to the lockdown in 2020.

"The facility was non-functional for two years. The firm resumed its operation on March 7 this year. A central government agency has the mandate of doing technical and safety audits had given its clearance on March 22 this year," said an official, the Hindustan Times reported.

The Trikut ropeway is one of the highest vertical ropeways and has a maximum lens angle of 44 degrees.