The Maulakali Cable Car station in Gaindakot, East Nawalparasi, has suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 70 crore after a violent protest by Gen Z demonstrators led to vandalism and arson. The attack took place on the evening of Bhadra 24 when protesters set fire to the bottom station located in Gaindakot Municipality–1.
According to Station Manager Suraj Poudel, repair work is currently underway. Workers are fixing tiles, marble, and repainting the area. The cable car has remained closed since the incident but efforts are being made to resume operations within Kartik.
“Important cables and sensors were completely burnt during the fire,” said Poudel. “From the outside, it doesn’t look too bad, but internally the damage is huge, nearly Rs 70 crore worth.”
He explained that the repair process has been delayed because some of the damaged parts are expensive and need to be imported from abroad. Technicians from Austria are expected to arrive around Kartik 13 or 14 to inspect and replace key components before the cable car can reopen.
During the violent attack, protesters set fire to the ticket counter, station office, café, and control room. “Around 6:30 pm, a group of people arrived, set vehicles and generators on fire, broke glass, and started vandalizing everything,” Poudel recalled. “Some even tried to steal the Global IME Bank ATM outside. The police couldn’t reach in time, and it was hard to tell who was attacking and who was just watching.”
Poudel said he still doesn’t know why the protesters targeted the station, as there had been no prior dispute or complaint. He added that many systems inside were destroyed due to the extreme heat, even though the outer parts of the station still look intact. “The drive station looks fine from outside, but inside, a lot of the sensors and machines are damaged. Some items were stolen, and some burned,” he said. “The fire lasted for about three and a half hours. We, about eight staff members, managed to put it out using water after the attackers left.”
The Maulakali Temple, a popular religious site, usually attracts nearly half of its visitors via the cable car. The closure has caused major losses during the festive season, especially during Dashain and Tihar when thousands of devotees travel to the temple.
“Last year alone, over 60,000 passengers took the cable car during this period,” Poudel shared. “This year, because of the shutdown, we’ve suffered huge financial losses.”
The closure has also hit local hotels and restaurants near the temple. Hotel occupancy has dropped sharply, and over 100 people; most of them locals, have lost their jobs.
The Maulakali Cable Car began official operations on Baisakh 18, 2080. It carried about 2.7 lakh passengers that year, and 2.35 lakh in 2081. According to Temple Management Committee Chairman Shaligram Sapkota, the number of visitors to the Maulakali Temple increased by nearly 30% after the cable car service began.
