A day after a 15-year-old boy died from falling nearly 45 feet from a zipline ride at Agra Chowpati, police arrested the Chowpati manager and the safety in-charge of EOD Adventure Park. Fresh details revealed serious safety lapses, including the teenager being allowed on the 120-foot-long ride without a helmet, and the rope's calibre hook allegedly breaking just 10 feet into the ride.
Victim details
The deceased, Kunal Agrawal, a resident of Firozabad, had come to Agra with his father Pankaj Agrawal, a bangle trader, mother Rinki Agrawal, and younger brother Mayank Agrawal. After visiting the Taj Mahal, the family went to Agra Chowpati, an adventure and entertainment venue near the monument. Kunal decided to take the zipline ride, which was part of a Rs 400 package that also included zip cycle and bull ride activities.
Incident sequence
A video shot by Mayank showed Kunal starting the ride without a helmet, police said. A preliminary inquiry suggested that the hook attached to the harness snapped soon after launch. Kunal plunged from a height of nearly 45 feet and was rushed to SN Medical College, where doctors declared him dead.
Investigation and arrests
The zipline was operated by EOD Adventure Park after approval from the Agra Development Authority (ADA). Police said investigators are examining the approval process, safety records, ride maintenance documents, staff training details, and whether mandatory protective gear was provided to visitors. Police commissioner Deepak Kumar directed action, leading to the filing of a case and the two arrests.
Officials stated that further legal action would depend on a technical inspection of the equipment, witness statements, and documents related to the ride's operation. The tragedy came barely a week after an eight-year-old child drowned at a water park in Agra, intensifying concerns over safety oversight at entertainment facilities in the city.
Public reaction and safety concerns
Witnesses said large crowds gathered at Chowpati every evening during summer vacation, and operators allegedly rushed visitors through rides without adequate checks. Residents claimed neither the contractor nor the departments carried out regular inspections of equipment, while angry locals described the attractions as a “death trap in the name of entertainment.”
ADA vice chairman M Arunmozhi said, “An inquiry committee has been set up under the ADA secretary Gajendra Kumar. Action will be based on the inquiry.”
