Swing collapse at Surajkund fair kills cop; second accident reported within an hour

The collapse of a giant swing at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Haryana has once again drawn attention to a series of accidents involving amusement rides and ropeways reported across India over the years.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening at the mela venue in Faridabad when a giant swing malfunctioned and collapsed mid-operation. A 59-year-old police inspector lost his life, while several others sustained injuries. Following the accident, authorities immediately halted all ride operations at the venue and ordered a detailed inquiry.

According to police, the giant swing, carrying around 20 people, snapped mid-air at approximately 6 pm. Inspector Jagdish Prasad, who was on duty as the in-charge of the zone where the ride was installed, rushed to assist in the rescue operation. During the process, a heavy portion of the swing fell on him, causing fatal injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Twelve other people were injured in the swing collapse and were rushed to Supreme Hospital on Surajkund Road and BK Hospital for treatment.

The tragedy followed another incident earlier that evening, when a gate near the food court collapsed due to strong winds, injuring a man and a child. The injured man was later identified as Sumit Malhotra.

In response to the swing collapse, Faridabad Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Varun Dahiya, after the Haryana government ordered a probe into the incident.

Haryana Tourism Minister Arvind Sharma visited the injured and said an FIR has been registered against the vendor responsible for operating the ride. He assured that strict action would be taken and that no one responsible would be spared.

Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha said that a total of 13 people were injured in the swing accident, while one person died. He added that the vendor, based in Himachal Pradesh, was selected by the Tourism Department. Senior officials, including the Managing Director of Haryana Tourism Corporation Limited, Parth Gupta, and senior police officers, reached the site soon after the incident. The area was barricaded as rescue and safety measures were carried out.

Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal announced that Inspector Prasad's family would be provided compensation of ₹1 crore, along with other benefits from the police department. He assured that the Haryana Police would extend all possible assistance to the bereaved family.

The incident has revived memories of similar tragedies, including the Pavagadh hill ropeway accident in Gujarat, where a cable snapped on September 6, 2025, killing six people. A technical committee was formed in that case to investigate the cause.

The Surajkund International Crafts Mela, held annually in February, attracts a massive number of visitors. Organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs, the fair has been held since 1987 and is considered one of the largest crafts fairs in the world.

The mela showcases India's diverse handicrafts, handlooms, folk art, traditional paintings, metalwork, pottery, woodcraft and regional cuisines. This year's edition began on January 31 and will continue until February 15, with the theme "Local to Global — Atmanirbhar Bharat".