Teen dies after falling nearly 45 feet from a zipline ride in Agra Choupati. Police are investigating negligence and safety failures
Agra: A happy family trip to Agra ended in tragedy after a 16-year-old boy died in a zipline accident at an entertainment park in the city. The incident happened on Sunday evening at Agra Chaupati in Tajnagri Phase-2 when the teenager reportedly fell from a height of nearly 45 feet during the ride.
The victim was identified as Kunal Agarwal, a resident of Firozabad. He had come to Agra with his parents and younger brother for a day trip. During the visit, the family saw the Taj Mahal and also watched a movie before going to the entertainment zone later in the evening.
Teen Wanted to Try Zipline Before Going Home
According to police and family members, Kunal wanted to go on the zipline ride before the family returned home. His family agreed and bought a ticket worth ₹400 for the activity.
Police said the accident took place around 5:30 PM. Soon after the ride started, the pulley lock or hook attached to the zipline allegedly broke. Kunal then fell from the height and hit part of the structure before landing on the ground.
Many visitors at the site witnessed the accident, and a video of the incident later went viral on social media.
Watch The Video Below:
Family Took Him to Hospital, Doctors Declared Him Dead
After the accident, Kunal’s family members and people present there immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital and later to SN Medical College. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The entire incident happened in front of his parents and younger brother, leaving the family in deep shock.
Kunal’s father, Pankaj Agarwal, who runs a bangle business in Firozabad, said the family had planned the trip after repeated requests from the children. He said they were enjoying the day and never thought it would end in such a heartbreaking way.
The family accused the zipline operators of negligence and said proper safety arrangements were not followed at the facility.
Police Register Case Against Ride Operators
After the complaint from the family, Agra Police registered a case against three people connected to the zipline operation under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Police later arrested Santosh Kumar Dubey, the manager of the facility, and Abhishek, who was in charge of maintenance and safety of the ride.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Syed Ali Abbas confirmed the arrests and said the investigation found several safety lapses at the site.
Investigation Reveals Safety Lapses
Police said the zipline is around 100 feet long and operates at a height of nearly 45 feet above the ground. Investigators are now checking whether regular maintenance and safety inspections were carried out properly.
Officials also said Kunal was reportedly not wearing a helmet during the ride. Police found that there was no safety net, cushioning arrangement, or impact protection system under the zipline to reduce injuries if someone fell.
Authorities have ordered a technical inspection to find out the exact reason behind the accident. Police are also examining CCTV footage and statements from eyewitnesses.
Accident Raises Questions Over Safety Standards
The incident has raised serious questions about safety standards at amusement parks and adventure activity centres across the country. Many people and experts are now asking whether such places regularly check their equipment and follow proper safety rules.
The tragedy has also increased demands for stricter government checks and compulsory safety audits for adventure rides and recreational activities.
Police said the investigation is still going on and further action will be taken after the technical and forensic reports are completed.
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