THIS is the horrifying moment a carnival ride suddenly collapsed, leaving one person dead and 13 others injured following a fatal mechanical malfunction.
The terrifying accident saw a spinning fairground ride detach from its frame mid-spin, catapulting the fair visitors to the ground.
Chilling video footage from an onlooker shows the ride making two successful turns before separating from one of the side pillars.
The seating component of the swing continued on its upward trajectory for a few seconds before plummeting to the ground.
People were heard screaming in the background of the video as the chaos unfolded.
The joyride quickly collapsed, killing a police officer in the process.
Inspector Jagdish Prasad had been trying to rescue people on the ground as the swing snapped off its hinges.
According to Gulf News, he was hit in the face and head by part of the ride.
He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and later declared dead.
The incident caused mass panic among other fairgoers who had attended the Surajkund International Craft Festival in Haryana, Faridabad on Saturday night.
Alongside Prasad’s death, 13 other people were injured during the horrific ordeal, including a stall operator.
The operator sustained injuries to his shoulders after the grill of the swing hit him in the back.
The injured victims were taken for treatment at nearby hospitals.
Ajay Singhal, the Director General of Police (DGP) in Haryana, described the fallen officer’s actions as “extraordinary bravery”, saying he saved several lives.
Prasad’s family will receive 10 million rupees (£80,991) as well as other departmental benefits for their loss.
Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha confirmed action will be taken against the ride operator.
An investigation into the incident has also been launched, with preliminary results revealing a technical malfunction was the likely reason for the ride’s collapse.
Police say a rescue operation immediately began at the scene.
The horrific ride collapse came just hours after a gate at the entry to the fairground collapsed, leaving two people, including a child, with injuries.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini expressed condolences to Prasad’s family.
“The Haryana government is fully committed, with utmost promptness and sensitivity, to providing all possible assistance to the injured and their families,” he said in a statement on X.
DGP Singhal told the public the police department stood with the bereaved family and would assist in recovery efforts for those injured.
The Surajkund Mela is one of the largest cultural fairs in India.
It attracts thousands of visitors every year.
