Twenty-three pilgrims were rescued on Wednesday after the rope-car they were travelling in to reach the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Murugan's temple some 450 km south of Chennai stopped moving.

Four cars began the climb at 8.30am but came to a standstill at a height of 140 feet as the machinery that drives the rope cars developed a technical snag. Efforts to revive the engine of the rope car service failed.

Pilgrims then began shouting for help and soon a fire brigade was called in. Four persons slithered down with rescue baskets, reached the cars and rescued the pilgrims.