The dragon train near Panch Mandir Durga Puja Samiti’s pandal in Ranchi on Tuesday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

A joy ride at a Puja fair turned into a horror experience for a mother-son duo when they fell down from the dragon train they had boarded after a portion of it derailed on Saptami evening.

Khusboo Mishra (26) and her five-year-old child Harshit were rushed to Gurunanak Hospital. They were released the next day. An FIR was lodged against the ride’s operator on the basis of statements of one Roshan Mishra.

The accident occurred at the ongoing mela at the grounds of Panch Mandir Durga Puja Samiti at Harmu Housing Colony around 8pm. The premises was teeming with Durga Puja revellers, many of whom were taking a spin on the dragon train. The ride is modelled on a toy train in the shape of a dragon, which plies on elevated tracks about seven feet from the ground.

“As the train was taking the fourth round on circular rail tracks, the bogie in which the lady and her son were sitting suddenly got derailed. Both fell on the ground from a height of seven feet. While the woman sustained injuries on her waist and left leg, the child got hurt in the face,” said an eyewitness.

The accident sparked panic among the 20-odd people, including 10 children, enjoying the ride at that moment. The operator immediately stopped the machine and rushed to the rescue of the injured, who were taken to Harmu Hospital. They were referred to Gurunanak Hospital.

Officer-in-charge of Argora police station Arvind Kumar confirmed lodging of an FIR. “The complainant, Roshan Mishra, is a resident of Kadru. The ride operator is from Ormanjhi. We will talk to both before proceeding further in the case,” he said, expressing inability to give any further detail.

The IPC sections under which the FIR was lodged include 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery). The sections carry six-month jail term or Rs 1,000 fine or both.

“The accident took place as the tracks had become slippery due to use of lubricant,” said Shahnaz, a woman running a bangle shop hardly 50m from the accident site.

Fatal fall

Bokaro: Two sisters died while another sustained grievous injuries after falling off a Ferris wheel at a fair at Makoli in Chandrapura, about 40km from Bokaro steel city, on Monday.

According to Chandrapura OC Akil Ahmad, the three sisters — Mamta (14), Chameli (9) and Baby (6), all residents of Makoli — had gone to the fair along with their brother-in-law. The trio decided to take a ride on the Ferris wheel.

Half way through the ride, one of the children started screaming, asking the operator to stop the ride. But before the wheel could slow down, Mamta fell down followed by Chameli and then Baby. While Mamta and Chameli died on the spot, Baby was rushed to KM Memorial Hospital. The fair organiser has been arrested and a case lodged.

In another incident, a 35-year-old assistant sub-inspector of Jharkhand Armed Police, Hemant Kumar Mishra, died after falling off the roof of his Sector XII quarters in the wee hours of Monday.