Teen dies after falling 45 feet from zip line in Agra, service operator arrested

A 16-year-old boy from Firozabad died after falling nearly 45 feet from a zip line at Agra Chowpati in Tajganj on Sunday after the pulley lock allegedly opened mid-ride.

In Short

• Kunal Agarwal had travelled from Firozabad with family to visit Agra
• Children later insisted on trying adventure rides at Agra Chowpati
• Police said the pulley lock opened mid-ride, triggering the fatal fall

A 16-year-old boy died after falling nearly 45 feet from a zip line at Agra Chowpati in the Tajganj area on Sunday, raising serious questions over safety standards at the adventure facility.

The victim, Kunal Agarwal, had come to Agra from Firozabad with his family. His father, Pankaj Agarwal, a bangle trader, had brought the family to visit the Taj Mahal before they later went to Agra Chowpati after the children insisted on trying the adventure activities there.

According to police, Kunal wanted to try the zip line installed at the facility. His parents agreed to let him participate. He was sent on the nearly 120-metre-long zip line, which was around 45 feet high.

Police said the pulley lock on the zip line suddenly opened while Kunal was moving on the rope, causing him to fall directly to the ground. Panic spread across the area as people witnessed the incident. His parents rushed towards him in shock, but Kunal died before he could be taken to the hospital.

After the incident, police immediately stopped the operation of the zip line. They detained the Chowpati manager and the zip line operator for questioning. Police also registered a case based on a complaint filed by the family and initiated legal action.

ADCP Himanshu Gaurav said adventure activities must strictly follow safety standards. He added that the preliminary investigation has raised serious concerns over the condition of the safety equipment and arrangements at the site.

Authorities developed Agra Chowpati to promote tourism by offering visitors local food and adventure activities. However, the incident has now put both the facility and its operators under scrutiny.

The Agra Development Authority operates the Chowpati, while a private agency, EOD Adventure Park (Vision Amusement Park Private Limited), handles the zip line operations. Following the incident, questions have emerged over whether regular safety audits were conducted and whether the safety equipment was functioning properly.

People present at the spot said stronger safety arrangements could have prevented the tragedy.

Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar also took cognisance of the incident and inspected the site. He directed officials to conduct a fair investigation and take strict action. Police are currently investigating every aspect of the case, including possible negligence in maintaining safety standards for adventure activities.

- Ends
With inputs from Nitin Upadhyay