Inspector killed, 13 injured as swing collapses at Surajkund Mela

A joyous outing turned into a tragedy at the ongoing Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad on Saturday when a high-speed swing collapsed, resulting in the death of a police inspector and leaving 13 others injured. 

The deceased has been identified as Inspector Jagdish, the swing-in-charge at the fair, who reportedly succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital. The injured were admitted to a private hospital by ambulance.

According to reports, 18 people were riding the Tsunami swing. As it went up, the swing got stuck, after which some people were brought down. After this, the swing started moving fast.

Then suddenly the swing collapsed. People present at the fair immediately attended to the injured. While rescuing people, a police inspector also got injured, after which an ambulance was called, and all the injured were taken to the hospital. A video of the incident has surfaced, showing the swing falling from top to bottom. After this, people at the fair started running helter-skelter.

After the incident, Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha reached the spot, and the fairground was evacuated. Sinha said the incident happened at around 6.15 pm when the swing suddenly tilted and collapsed while people were on it.  “A police inspector was declared brought dead. He had tried to save people when the joyride began tilting, but a part of the ride hit him in the face and head. Around 13 people were injured and have been rushed to the hospital. Others are under treatment,” Sinha said. Authorities said action will be taken against the joyride operator. “FIR will be registered, and an investigation will be done,” the deputy commissioner added.

Raghav, a shopkeeper at the fair, recounted that as people began screaming for help, he climbed the structure and managed to bring down seven or eight passengers safely. However, shortly after he descended, the ride suddenly malfunctioned and crashed to the ground, trapping the remaining occupants.

Inspector Jagdish was reportedly struck by the falling structure while leading the rescue operations on the ground. A video of the horrific incident has surfaced, showing the ride plummeting from its height, leading to a stampede-like situation as panicked visitors fled for safety. Among the identified injured are Rajesh (a constable), Balram, Anuj Kumar, and a woman named Pooja. All victims were rushed to a nearby private hospital via ambulance.

Reacting to the incident, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed grief over the loss of life. “I am extremely saddened by the accident that occurred during the Surajkund Mela held in Faridabad. I express deep condolences to the family members of the person who lost their life in this accident,” he said. The chief minister further said officials have been instructed to ensure proper and immediate treatment for the injured.

Compounding the tragedy, a welcome arch near Gate Number 2 crumbled moments later, injuring two additional fairgoers caught beneath the debris. Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion as metal and wood gave way unexpectedly amid throngs of visitors. The Surajkund Mela is one of the largest cultural fairs in the country and attracts thousands of visitors every year.