Children Are Dying on Amusement Rides. Where Is the Law?

Every mela, every fairground, every joyride at the local park runs on the same silent assumption: that someone, somewhere, checked that it was safe. Most of the time, no one did.

In India, the national safety standard for amusement rides exists on paper — and stops there. There is no law that requires any operator to follow it.

What Has Already Happened

Surajkund Mela, Faridabad — Feb 2026

The "Tsunami" swing collapsed mid-ride. Inspector Jagdish Prasad died while helping others to safety; 12–13 people were injured. Police have filed a culpable-homicide case against the operator.

Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad — 2019

The pendulum ride "Discovery" snapped mid-swing. 2 people died, 27 were injured. Six people, including the operating company's managing director, were booked for culpable homicide.

Different cities, different rides, seven years apart — the same failure each time: no certified structural audit, no enforced safety standard, no legal consequence until after someone was already hurt or dead.

"Negligence is not an accident. Every uncertified ride is a law waiting to be broken."
— Amarjeet Singh, Founder, PRAN Foundation

The Law Is Already There. It's Just Not Mandatory.

The Bureau of Indian Standards has published IS 15475 — a detailed safety standard covering structural checks, operator training, and inspection schedules for amusement rides. But compliance is voluntary. No state, municipality, or fair organiser is legally bound to follow it. That single gap is what turns a mechanical fault into a preventable death.

How You Can Help

1. Check before boarding. Look for a displayed structural safety certificate, visible rust or makeshift welds on the frame, and an operator who can explain the emergency stop. If any of these fail, don't board — and tell the organiser why.

2. Report an unsafe ride. A photo of a rusted joint, a missing certificate, or an untrained operator helps us build the evidence base for pushing mandatory enforcement.

3. Share the checklist. Most families have never been told what to look for. Passing this on is the fastest way to reduce risk right now, while the law catches up.