M A I N   N E W S

Three die in ‘jhoola’ crash
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Feb 11 — Tragedy struck at the ongoing 15th Surajkund crafts mela this afternoon. Three persons, including a woman and a minor girl, were killed and 14-others were injured when a merry-go-round crashed all of sudden.

The injured have been admitted to local hospitals. The condition of three injured persons is stated to be critical.

According to information, the dead have been identified as Gyan Chand (35), his wife, Asha Sharma (30) and a 13 year-old-girl, Sanah, hailing from the Jama-Masjid area in Delhi.

Two daughters of the deceased couple (Gyan Chand and Asha) identified as Neha and Deeksha have been injured in this afternoon’s accident.

Heavy rush was reported today, as it was a holiday.

The other injured admitted in Bhadshah Khan (civil) and Escorts Hospitals here include Jagjit, Seema, Mander, Nahar, Neha, Badar Khan, Seema, Vinod, Seema Lakra, Samer and Saifur.

According to information the incident occurred at about 3.30 p.m. when the merry-go-round installed and run by the contractor was in operation and going up and down in full speed. The site is located just in the neighbourhood of the crafts village. The incident led to panic and a near stampede as certain visitors thought it was a bomb blast. The mela, which entered the 11th day today, will come to an end on February 15.

It is alleged the mela authorities failed to provide safety or take precautions to deal with any such incident. It is reported there was neither an ambulance nor any fire brigade personnel at the site. The victims were shifted in private vehicles by the visitors themselves.

Meanwhile, the mela authorities have expressed grief over the incident. Haryana Tourism has announced an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh to kin of those killed and Rs 25,000 to the injured. It has assured free treatment to the injured.

An inquiry has been instituted. But it is not known whether the contractor of ‘jhoola’ has been arrested or not.

The incident is reported to be first so far in which so many persons have been killed or injured since its beginning in 1987. Lakhs of visitors, including foreign tourist throng the mela which is jointly organised by Haryana Tourism, Union Ministry of Tourism and Commission of Handicrafts.