Swing that collapsed, killed cop at Surajkund Mela installed without nod, rights panel told
A report by the state chief electrical inspector exposed a severe lack of safety norms across the Surajkund Mela fairground, saying they ‘could have resulted in…electric shock, short-circuit or fire incidents’.
The HHRC observed that installing the 'Tsunami Jhula’ amounted to a 'grave violation of tender condition and demonstrates unauthorized installation' without due approval. (File Photo)
The ‘Tsunami’ amusement ride that collapsed at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad in February, killing a police inspector and injuring several visitors, was not part of the original list of rides submitted by the contractor during the bidding process for operating swings, according to the report submitted by state’s Tourism department to the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC).
The fatal swing also operated without due approval amid hazardous conditions and “poor workmanship”, the HHRC was told in another report by State Chief Electrical Inspector SS Sangwan, which exposed a severe lack of safety norms across the fairground.
The rights watchdog, which took on record the reports on April 7, pinpointed “sheer negligence” by three Haryana Tourism Corporation (HTC) officials — Activity Head Nitin Kataria, Executive Engineer Satish Deswal, and Junior Engineer Nishant — in an order made public on Saturday.
The coram of Justice Lalit Batra, judicial member Kuldip Jain and member Deep Bhatia noted, quoting from compliance reports submitted to it, that three HTC officials have been chargesheeted for major penalty under the Haryana Civil Services Rules for dereliction of duty.
The Commission observed that installing the swing amounted to a “grave violation of tender condition and demonstrates unauthorised installation” without due approval.
The State Chief Electrical inspector’s findings, accompanied by site photographs, depicted “hazardous conditions such as open electrical distribution boxes, exposed and loosely hanging wires, improper jointing and unprotected cables laid in areas accessible to the public”. The report stated that these conditions “could have resulted in serious accidents, including electric shock, short-circuit or fire incidents”.
The tragedy unfolded on the evening of February 7 when the giant swing snapped from one side while several visitors were sitting on it.
As police personnel rushed to rescue trapped visitors, the structure suddenly broke from the other side, crashing down on Inspector Jagdish of the Haryana Police. He succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Supreme Hospital, Eros Garden. Several visitors and other police officers also sustained serious injuries.
An FIR was registered at the Surajkund police station against the operator from Himachal Fun Fair Company, Mohammad Shakir, and his staff. A day after the collapse of the swing, the Faridabad Police had arrested Shakir, and Nitesh, his staff member.
However, the HHRC flagged a significant disconnect in the ongoing police probe. While the HTC inquiry indicted its own senior officials for gross negligence, the Commission remarked that the police investigating team currently “has no clue of those delinquents”.
A police spokesperson said on Saturday that the owner of the swing, Shubham Gupta, was arrested from Faridabad and sent to judicial custody earlier this week.
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Meanwhile, the Commission has directed Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta to expedite the investigation and submit an action taken report.
Abhimanyu Hazarika is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Gurgaon. He covers southern Haryana.
Education
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Print Media, Asian College of Journalism (Class of 2020)
- B.A. (Hons) Liberal Arts with a major in Political Science, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (Class of 2019)
Professional Experience
Before joining The Indian Express, he worked with Bar & Bench (legal journalism) and Frontline magazine, where he developed experience in court reporting, legal analysis, and long-form investigative features.
Reporting Interests
His work centres on civic accountability, environmental policy, urban infrastructure and culture, crime and law enforcement, and their intersections with politics and governance in and around Gurgaon.
Recent Coverage (2025)
- Crime: Reported on the recovery of 350 kg of explosives and an AK-47 from a rented house in Faridabad, linked to the 2025 Red Fort car explosion case (November 11, 2025).
- Environmental policy: Covered protests outside a Haryana minister’s residence against a Supreme Court order that environmentalists argue could allow mining and real estate development on large parts of the Aravalli hills (December 21, 2025).
- Pollution control measures: Co-authored coverage of the Rekha Gupta government’s enforcement of vehicle restrictions at Delhi-NCR borders (December 21, 2025).
- Road safety and infrastructure: Examined response lapses in the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway hit-and-run case and ongoing investigations into high-speed road crimes in Gurugram.
- Animal welfare policy: Reported on concerns regarding the low budget allocated for stray dog sterilization by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (November 30, 2025).
- Urban culture: Featured the social media-driven popularity of a new Magnolia Bakery outlet in Gurugram (December 15, 2025).
Contact
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