LUCKNOW: At least 30 people, including women and children, were injured after a 60-foot-high swing ride collapsed mid-operation at the ongoing Bhainsaha (Chait Barni) Mela in the Khadda area of Kushinagar late Wednesday.Eyewitnesses said the swing was overcrowded, carrying nearly 80 people at the time of the accident. The ride reportedly completed two rotations before emitting creaking sounds, indicating a possible structural failure. Despite warnings from passengers, the operator allegedly continued the ride. Moments later, the massive structure uprooted from its base and crashed to the ground with a loud impact, throwing riders off and trapping several underneath.Police personnel stationed at the mela, along with residents, immediately launched rescue operations. The heavy metal structure made the rescue effort difficult, taking nearly an hour to extricate those trapped. Six ambulances were deployed to shift the injured to nearby hospitals, while more than 10 critically injured people were referred to a district medical college.
Two children are reported to be in serious condition.
Bhainsaha Mela, held annually on the banks of the Narayani River near a Durga temple during Chaitra Purnima, draws large crowds from eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as neighbouring Bihar and Nepal. Officials acknowledged that the turnout this year was significantly higher than anticipated. Preliminary investigations suggest that the base of the swing was weak and not properly anchored into the ground, making it unable to bear the excessive load.
