Surajkund Fair Tragedy Prompts SIT Investigation Into Safety Committee Failures
The tragic collapse of a giant swing at the Surajkund fairgrounds in Faridabad has triggered a comprehensive investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the functioning of expert technical committees responsible for safety oversight. The incident, which claimed the life of a Haryana police inspector and injured twelve others including a lady constable and Special Police Officer, has exposed critical gaps in safety protocols at one of Haryana's premier cultural events.
Safety Committees Under Scrutiny
Serious questions are being raised about the operational effectiveness of the technical, mechanical, and electrical committees mandated to conduct safety checks on amusement rides before installation and during routine operations. A three-member SIT constituted by the Haryana Director General of Police under the supervision of DCP Crime (Headquarters) Faridabad, Mukesh Malhotra, is expected to thoroughly interrogate committee members regarding their compliance with safety directives.
The technical committee, constituted on January 22, was headed by the Executive Engineer of the Electrical Inspectorate in Faridabad and included representatives from multiple departments:
- Executive Engineer, PWD (Mechanical), Faridabad
- Executive Engineer (Electrical), PWD Faridabad
- Head of Electrical Department, YMCA Faridabad
- Executive Engineer, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Faridabad
- Fire Officer, Faridabad
- Sub-Divisional Engineer (Electrical), HSVP
- Incharge Mechanical, Haryana Roadways
- Junior Engineer, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Faridabad
This nine-member team was specifically directed to submit daily inspection reports to the office of the Faridabad Deputy Commissioner, with copies marked to the chief administrator of the mela and the managing director of Haryana Tourism Corporation.
Administrative Response and Business Impact
In what appears to be a precautionary measure following the tragedy, fair management has completely shut down the entire amusement section for the remainder of the event. This decision has created significant business disruption for approximately seventy stall owners operating in the amusement zone, who now face substantial financial losses.
Trade fair authorities are actively considering solutions to mitigate this economic impact, including potential relocation of affected shops or allowing limited operations within the amusement area under enhanced safety conditions. An official statement confirmed, "Following the request of vendors, who were running their shops, they were allowed to function, and some of them were relocated."
Investigation Scope and Official Communications
The SIT investigation extends beyond mere questioning of committee members. Investigators have been directed to meticulously examine the daily safety reports submitted by the technical team to the Deputy Commissioner's office and other relevant authorities. Sources familiar with the investigation have confirmed that recording statements from all committee members forms a crucial component of the probe.
Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, Faridabad Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Aayush Sinha, who granted administrative approval for the event, remained inaccessible for comment. However, reliable sources and official spokespersons maintain that the district administration communicated safety requirements well in advance, explicitly instructing both event organizers and technical committees to prioritize comprehensive safety testing.
Tourism Corporation's Safety Assurance
Parth Gupta, Managing Director of Haryana Tourism Corporation which organized the mela, provided official clarification regarding current safety measures: "The swings in amusement section have been closed for the remainder period of the mela. As far as safety checks are concerned, our teams are conducting enhanced safety checks on entire mela premises."
This statement underscores the heightened vigilance now being implemented across all fairground operations, though it comes too late for the police inspector who lost his life while attempting to rescue people during the swing collapse incident last Saturday.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebration of regional culture and commerce, transforming it instead into a case study of safety protocol failures and their devastating human consequences.
