Kankaria ride crash: Operator’s 11 out of 23 rides had defects

AHMEDABAD: Eight days before the Sunday amusement park horror — in which a ride crashed into the ground, killing two people and seriously injuring 29 — the safety audit report filed by the operator himself had declared that the ride was among the 11 of the 23 run by him which were beset with problems.
On Sunday, the arm of the pendulum ride called Discovery had snapped. The safety audit report filed on July 6 with the Kankaria Lakefront Development officials and the roads and buildings department by the operator had listed more than 20 mechanical problems in the 23 rides.
The operator, Superstar Amusement Private Limited, runs rides in Amusement-2 zone of the Kankaria lakefront.
Mechanical glitches: Officials pass the buck
In the report, the auditor had pointed to mechanical glitches in three major rides: Flying Chair, Ring of Fire, and ‘Imperator’ apart from Discovery. In the case of Flying Chair, the gear wheel teeth lacked lubrication. The auditor recommended that the nut-bolt connection be thoroughly checked. Moreover, the fluid couple, which controls speed, required change of oil immediately.
In the case of the Imperator, the auditor had suggested rechecking of wiring switches, brakes, safety bars and safety locks, and the sensor’s alignment. As for Discovery, the auditor had advised the replacement of nuts and bolts in the joints and had noted that the motor was making a noise. The liner had to be changed for Mini Giant Wheel, the auditor had observed.
Municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra said, “The self-audit by the operator is one of the 20 conditions stipulated by the roads and buildings department. The copy of the report is provided to the AMC.” He went on to say, “It is solely the responsibility of the executive engineer of the roads and buildings department (mechanical) to inspect and certify the safety of the rides based on which police issue licenes.” Nehra said that the AMC does not play any role in safety.