Six Indian amusement park staffers have been charged in the deaths of two people who were on a pendulum-style ride when it snapped mid-swing and crashed from at least 30 feet high.
Officials said around 30 people were on the Discovery ride in Ahmedabad on Sunday when it suddenly snapped, hitting the frame and plunging to the ground, as caught on video.
Manali Rajwadi, 24, and Mohammad Javed, 22, were both pronounced dead and 27 others were hospitalized. Local media said up to 14 may be in critical condition.
Six members of Superstar Amusement, which operates the park, have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, an official told New Delhi Television Limited on Monday.
They were identified as managing director Ghanshyam Patel and his son Bhavesh Patel, manager Rajesh Chowksi, ride operators Yash Patel and Kishan Mohanti and assistant Manish Vaghela.
Police warned that others could still be charged.
“We are checking aspects such as operation and maintenance of the ride. Even agencies responsible for inspection will be probed for accountability,” local deputy commissioner of police Bipin Ahire told the Times of India.
Ghanshyam Patel had earlier insisted that all inspections were up to date and the company takes “all possible care with rides,” according to the Ahmedabad Mirror.
“The ride broke but we cannot say how,” Patel said, according to the local paper. “There are two very strong 20-ton, load-bearing ropes inside and we don’t know how they snapped. Maybe there was load on the pipe and it broke.”
Fire officials said the ride reaches a height of 66 feet and it was at least 30 feet in the air when it snapped.
“The broken cables will need to be examined to know how the ride broke. There are doubts on the maintenance of the ride as well,” chief fire officer M.F. Dastoor told the Ahmedabad Mirror.