Schoolgirl's scalp is ripped off when her hair is caught in ferris wheel during fairground horror

A girl's scalp was torn off after her hair became trapped in a ferris wheel's spokes.

The teen girl sustained severe injuries during an incident at a fair in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India. She was riding a swing when her hair became trapped in a roller, with the force ripping her scalp from her head.

Bystanders rushed to stop the fairground ride, but they were unable to bring it to a standstill before the teenager was gruesomely injured. The girl is said to have immediately passed out following the incident in Madhonagar village.

She was transferred to a private hospital in Gursahaiganj, and later to PGI in Lucknow for further treatment due to her worsening condition. A two-day fair featuring puja ceremonies, processions, and a variety of swing rides is organised in Madhonagar each year under the auspices of the Shri Shri 1008 Swami Nityananda Seva Samiti.

While fairground attractions can provide an exhilarating experience, safety experts emphasised that people should take precautions whenever they embark on rides. People should ensure they wear lap bars, belts, and other safety mechanisms to prevent accidents during sudden movements, sharp turns, and high speeds.

Experts strongly advise riders against the temptation to stand up, lean out, or loosen any restraints while the ride is in motion. Fairground rides can occasionally be dangerous, with one incident on an attraction in the UK earlier this year saw four people injured when it malfunctioned.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation after four people were ejected from the ride during the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park, southeast London, on the evening of June 8. One 11-year-old girl sustained leg, pelvis and lower back injuries when she was thrown to the ground, and her grandfather suffered a broken nose.

London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement that a man and woman in their 40s were treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The HSE said in its own statement that the ride is being "forensically examined by specialists", with inspector Stacey Gamwell saying the organisation would decide whether "formal enforcement" would be required.

She said: “We will continue to thoroughly investigate what happened and determine whether there were any breaches of health and safety law at the time of this incident. Once we have finished our investigation, a decision will then be made on whether formal enforcement is required in line with our enforcement policy."

Ms Gamwell added: "We remain in contact with those affected by the ride’s malfunction and will keep them updated throughout our investigation.”