Pavagadh rockfall kills 2 pilgrims, 8 hurt in Panchmahal amid monsoon rain
Synopsis
Heavy monsoon rain on 19 June loosened rocks on Pavagadh Hill, sending them crashing onto a pilgrim stairway near Patiya Bridge at dawn. Two devotees from Kheda district were killed and eight others hospitalised — a stark reminder of the seasonal safety crisis at one of Gujarat's most visited hill shrines.
Key Takeaways
Two pilgrims killed and eight injured in a rockfall at Pavagadh Hill , Panchmahal district , on 19 June .
The incident occurred between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. near Patiya Bridge on the pilgrim stairway.
Heavy and continuous monsoon rainfall is believed to have destabilised the rocks.
All 10 people caught in the incident have been accounted for; no one remains trapped.
The eight injured were admitted to Halol Referral Hospital ; the two deceased were residents of Kheda district .
Authorities have launched an inquiry; officials have urged caution at hilly pilgrimage sites during the monsoon.
At least two pilgrims were killed and eight others injured after rocks collapsed onto a stairway at the Pavagadh pilgrimage site in Gujarat's Panchmahal district on the morning of 19 June, as heavy monsoon rainfall continued to batter the region. The incident is among the first major weather-related casualties at the hill shrine this monsoon season.
How the Incident Unfolded
The rockfall occurred between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. near Patiya Bridge on Pavagadh Hill, where devotees were ascending the steps toward the hilltop shrine. Continuous and heavy rainfall is believed to have destabilised rocks on the hillside, sending them crashing onto the pilgrim stairway below.
Initial reports indicated that several people had been trapped beneath the debris after the rocks rolled down the slope. The disaster triggered immediate panic among pilgrims and bystanders in the area.
Rescue Operation and Casualties
Emergency teams — including personnel from the ropeway service and local authorities — were swiftly deployed to the site. Police personnel from Pavagadh arrived shortly after the incident and assisted in rescue and relief efforts.
According to sources familiar with the rescue operation, a total of 10 people were caught in the incident. 'The incident occurred between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Two people died, and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. No one is trapped at present,' a source said. The eight injured were taken to Halol Referral Hospital for treatment. The rescue operation was subsequently declared complete.
Victims and Identities
The two deceased were reportedly residents of Kheda district, according to sources. Their identities had not been officially released at the time of reporting. Authorities have launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the rockfall.
Monsoon Risk at Hill Shrines
Pavagadh Hill, which houses the revered Mahakali temple — a UNESCO World Heritage Site precinct — draws large numbers of pilgrims year-round. The monsoon season consistently raises safety concerns along the hill's steep pathways, where loose rock and wet surfaces pose hazards for devotees. This incident underscores the recurring challenge of managing pilgrim safety at elevated religious sites during the June-September rainfall period.
Officials have urged visitors and pilgrims to exercise caution while travelling in hilly areas during the ongoing monsoon season. Further details from the inquiry are awaited.
Point of View
Yet the seasonal risk from loose rock faces and rain-slicked staircases appears to receive insufficient pre-monsoon mitigation. The fact that authorities are launching an inquiry after the deaths, rather than having preventive protocols already in place, points to a systemic gap. Gujarat's administration should be asked what hazard assessments were conducted on the Patiya Bridge stairway before the monsoon season began — and whether pilgrim access protocols exist for high-rainfall alerts.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Pavagadh Hill on 19 June?
Rocks collapsed onto a pilgrim stairway near Patiya Bridge on Pavagadh Hill in Gujarat's Panchmahal district between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on 19 June, amid heavy monsoon rainfall. Two pilgrims were killed and eight others were injured.
Who were the victims of the Pavagadh rockfall?
The two deceased were reportedly residents of Kheda district in Gujarat. Their identities had not been officially released at the time of reporting. Eight other pilgrims sustained injuries and were hospitalised.
Where were the injured taken for treatment?
The eight injured pilgrims were shifted to Halol Referral Hospital for treatment following the rockfall. Rescue teams confirmed that no one remained trapped after the operation was completed.
What caused the rockfall at Pavagadh Hill?
Continuous and heavy monsoon rainfall is believed to have loosened rocks on the hillside, causing them to roll down onto the stairway used by pilgrims. Authorities have begun an inquiry into the precise circumstances.
Is Pavagadh Hill safe to visit during the monsoon?
Officials have urged visitors and pilgrims to exercise caution while travelling in hilly areas during the monsoon season. The inquiry into the 19 June incident is ongoing, and further safety advisories are expected.
