A 60-foot Ferris wheel collapsed during a late-night fair in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, injuring at least 30 people, police said. The accident occurred around midnight on Wednesday in Bhainsaha village, Kushinagar district, where hundreds had gathered at an ancient temple complex for the annual fair.
Video footage captured by a fairgoer showed the ride, carrying dozens including women and children, suddenly tilting to one side before crashing to the ground. Witnesses rushed to help those trapped beneath the twisted metal, pulling victims from the wreckage. Local media reported the ride was carrying nearly 80 people and had completed two rotations before emitting a creaking sound and collapsing.
At least 10 people were reported to be critically injured, while others sustained minor wounds. Police said rescue operations were launched immediately, with six ambulances dispatched to transport the injured to nearby medical facilities. An eyewitness said one side of the support pillar broke mid-operation, causing the structure to collapse, according to NDTV Hindi.
The fair is held annually on the banks of the Narayani river within the temple premises, attracting devotees from neighbouring Bihar and visitors from Nepal. Preliminary information suggests a technical fault had been noticed earlier, but the operator allegedly continued running the ride, raising concerns of negligence. Authorities have registered a case and are investigating whether mandatory safety checks were carried out.
Fairs in India attract huge crowds and are often organised around religious festivals at temporary fairgrounds in rural areas. Such fairs have sparked concerns over safety and regulation, as they typically feature makeshift rides assembled on-site with limited oversight. In 2024, a 13-year-old girl was seen dangling from a Ferris wheel after slipping from her seat at a fair in Uttar Pradesh.
