The Mahajan family, visiting New York City for the first time, faced a tragic incident on their third day. Deepak Mahajan expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss of his son Romanch, who died on Wednesday following a fall from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. The family had come to the United States to celebrate Romanch’s recent high school graduation and his acceptance to an Indian university.
On the fateful day, Romanch explored Central Park with his parents, Deepak and Priya, and his 11-year-old brother, Maanik. They decided to enjoy one of the park’s famous horse-drawn carriage rides. As the ride was about to conclude, the driver paused to take photos of them at various scenic spots. When the driver stepped away to capture a picture, the horse suddenly bolted.
“We never knew that this was the last day of his life,” remarked Deepak Mahajan.
Romanch fell from the moving carriage and suffered a fatal head injury. Authorities reported he attempted to save his mother as she, too, fell. He was quickly rushed to a hospital but could not be saved. Other family members sustained minor injuries. Deepak Mahajan described Romanch as a tall, smart, and obedient young man.
Romanch’s uncle, Guarav Mahajan, remembered him fondly as a helpful teenager with a kind heart. He noted Romanch’s entrepreneurial dreams and his eagerness to share innovative ideas with family.
In response to the tragedy, horse carriage rides in Central Park were suspended. The Transport Workers Union, which represents the drivers, halted operations to reassess safety protocols. Union members indicated that the carriage driver was close to the horse when it unexpectedly bolted. Video footage showed the carriage colliding with another, causing passengers to fall.
Alexander Kemp of the Transport Workers Union noted the driver violated protocol by leaving the carriage to take photos. The driver faces indefinite suspension, and the involved horse, new to the park, retired.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Romanch Mahajan,” Kemp stated.
Deepak Mahajan called for enhanced safety measures to prevent future tragedies. Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate in New York is assisting the Mahajans. This incident marks the first known human fatality involving Central Park’s horse carriages in over 150 years, according to relevant authorities.
The occurrence renewed calls to ban such carriages in Central Park. The Central Park Conservancy, advocates, and even certain political figures have long supported this ban due to safety and health risks.
“A young man came to enjoy our park and lost his life. That is not an acceptable cost,” a Central Park Conservancy spokesperson commented.
City Council member Christopher Marte pointed to the accident as further validation for his proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages. He stressed dangers to passengers, tourists, and even pedestrians posed by these rides.
Over the past year, the park has experienced several horse-related incidents, including the recent death of a horse named Deniz due to toxic plant ingestion. The Central Park Conservancy and others, in pursuit of this ban, advocate for Ryder’s Law. This legislation seeks not only to ban carriage operations but also to provide alternative employment for affected drivers.
Kemp stated that the union supports reforms suggested in a different local bill aimed at improving horse welfare and safeguarding jobs. Proposed reforms include setting up hitching posts across the park to securely tether horses while tourists have their pictures taken.
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