A police inspector died, while at least 13 people were injured after a high-speed pendulum swing ride collapsed at the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad on Saturday evening. This was the second incident of the night; earlier, another mishap had occurred at the fairgrounds that evening.
According to eyewitnesses, the pendulum swing incident took place almost one hour after Gate number 2 of the fairground collapsed, injuring one person.
The injured person was later identified as Sumit Malhotra, a resident of Sector 28.
The pendulum swing mishap occurred around 6:15 pm when more than two dozen people were enjoying the ride. Inspector Jagdish Prasad, aged 59, was part of the deployment at the festival when he was killed trying to save lives, losing his own in the process. At least 12 others, including two women constables, were injured in the incident.
Police officials said that Inspector Jagdish Prasad, posted in the police lines at Palwal and deployed on fair duty, was the security in charge of the swing complex. They then informed that the swing was moving dangerously fast when one end broke, leaving it hanging 2–3 feet above the ground. Police and locals rushed to help.
A senior police official later said that “Several people had been taken off the swing, and people nearby supported the fallen portion and helped in rescuing people. Suddenly, the swing broke from the other end as well and fell completely to the ground.”
Many people were stuck underneath the swing.
“Prasad tried to save the people and showed exemplary courage but lost his life in the process after sustaining serious injuries to the face and head,” the official added.
Among the injured are ASI Neelam, Sunil from Mahendragarh, Harsh Prakash of Greater Noida, Prashant from Dholpur in Rajasthan, Anisha of Faridabad, and Shivani and Parvinder from Noida Sector 78. A stall operator, Raghav, was also injured when a swing grill hit his shoulder during the rescue.
In a post on X, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed grief over the incident and said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy at the Surajkund Mela and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
“The Haryana government is working with utmost urgency and sensitivity to provide all possible assistance to the injured and their families,” he said.
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