Jagdish Prasad, a 58-year-old police inspector on duty, died while trying to rescue people at the Surajkund fairgrounds after a giant swing tore apart in mid-air and collapsed.
About 19 people were riding the swing when it tilted before hitting the ground at around 6pm on Saturday, injuring 11.
The officer showed great bravery in trying to save those trapped in the swing but sustained severe injuries that led to his death, a senior officer said.
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Prasad, who joined the Haryana Armed Police in 1989 and was due to retire in March after completing 36 years in the force. He was awarded the Police Medal by the Governor of Haryana in 2019-20.
Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal announced the compensation ₹1 million for an inspector and a government job for one member of his family. The DGP declared that Prasad would be accorded martyr status and praised the officer for sacrificing his life in an effort to save the lives of others.
Prasad is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, all students and unmarried. His sudden death shocked his native Dengra village in Mathura district.
He has three brothers: Pradeep, a teacher who lives in the village with their father Surajmal and mother Shanti Devi. Another brother, Satish Chandra, who works in a chemical factory in Ballabgarh, and Chandrabhan Singh, who works in an automobile factory in Faridabad.
“We received the news on Saturday at 8 pm. His wife Sudha lives with his two daughters Nidhi and Deepti and son Gaurav in a government accommodation in Sonipat police lines. My brother was awarded police medal by the governor in 2019-20,” said Pradeep.
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The Surajkund pilgrimage will continue on Sunday as well
The 39th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Festival will continue on Sunday with the swing closed for further investigation, the district administration informed.
A committee headed by an additional deputy commissioner will investigate the accident and a case has been registered against the swing seller, officials said.
Haryana Tourism Minister Arvind Sharma said that the injured people are now out of danger.
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Surajkund Fair: Third swing accident
According to a PTI report, this was the third such swing accident at the Surajkund fair.
Despite a death in 2002 and an injury in 2019, Saturday saw another fatality.
In 2002, a young man died on a swing in the Surajkund fair grounds. At that time, the swings were suspended for a few years. Another accident in 2019 injured a young man, after which the swings were suspended again.
They were re-launched considering the revenue they generated.
According to officials, there are strict rules for installing swings that require daily inspections.