Warning: Distressing Content
At least two people have been killed and dozens more injured after a theme park ride snapped in half in India.
The tragic accident, which saw the Discovery pendulum ride crashing to the ground as it was filled to full capacity, happened at Kankaria Adventure Park in Ahmedabad on Sunday afternoon (July 14).
The main shaft of the ride broke just as it started gaining height and speed, resulting in everyone on board being pulled towards the ground along with the heavy mechanism.
The below video contains distressing scenes:
#Ahmedabad #kankaria accident pic.twitter.com/NLIQnClnX5
— Shishir Choudhary (@shishir1986) July 14, 2019
Shocking footage from the theme park shows the moments leading up to the incident, as well as people watching in horror as they hear the deafening crash of the ride as it hits the ground.
People can be heard screaming as others rush towards the crash to assist the injured, with the camera cutting out soon after.
As per RT, Vijay Nehra, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) commissioner, said:
The AMC fire department conducted swift disaster response operations. The heads of departments of paediatrics, ortho and surgery reported to the hospital and the injured are being treated.
Ahmedabad: 2 people died&26 injured after a joyride at an adventure park in Kankaria area broke this afternoon. Vijay Nehra,Commissioner, Municipal Corporation says,"Police along with the FSL team is investigating the matter.Proper treatment is being given to injured." #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/YmV1qS9w2F
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2019
At least two people have died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the accident, while 26 others were rushed to hospital with serious injuries immediately afterwards, CNN-News18 reports.
The two people who lost their lives have been identified as 24-year-old Manali Rajwadi, and 22-year-old Mohammad Javed, a police official confirmed.
An investigation has been launched to figure out the cause of the incident and to find out whether the theme park had a proper licence to operate the ride. Officials are also investigating whether the maintenance of the ride was up to standards.
3 Dead and over 15 injured as Ride Collapsed at Kankaria #Adventure Park in #Ahmedabad
Injured immediately rushed to LG Hospital. pic.twitter.com/UM1Lu6VVD8
— Meghna Dev (@DevMeghna) July 14, 2019
The incident comes less than a month after a 19-year-old girl was killed in a similar accident at Istiklol amusement park in Uzbekistan.
The teenager was on a ride similar to the one at the Ahmedabad theme park when it snapped in half, sending the main section which held the passengers crashing to the ground.
Uzbek authorities said the 19-year-old, identified only by her initials MH, was killed although they did not specify how many other riders sustained injuries.
The below footage contains distressing scenes:
K im not going to theme parks now pic.twitter.com/6t8n9E3B6M
— I J (@ijeeezy) July 3, 2019
The amusement park is located on the bank of the River Sanzar in Jizzakh, a city in ex-Soviet state Uzbekistan, 125 miles south-west of capital city Tashkent.
Our thoughts are with those who suffered as a result of the tragic events.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).