SURAT: Five people, including two children, were injured when an amusement ride called “Tower Ride” came crashing down from a height of 50 feet, at a fair in Bilimora town of Navsari district at about 11pm on Sunday night. Large numbers of people had gathered at the fair on the ground adjacent to the famous Somnath Temple, as it was the last Monday of the holy month of Shravan. After the accident, Navsari police began a probe to determine if negligence led to it. The Navsari collector has simultaneously formed a nine-member committee to investigate the incident for procedural lapses. The accident has resurrected questions about public safety at fairs and amusement facilities in Gujarat, after the Rajkot gaming zone fire and several past accidents involving fairground rides. This spinning ride had a 32-seat capacity and had eight people on it when it collapsed. Those injured are Dirgh Tandel (14), Jash Tandel (14), Disha Patel (20) and Roshni Patel (30). The ride operator, Rushikesh Vaghmare, was also seriously injured. He was shifted to Apollo Hospital in Surat for treatment. Vaghmare had noticed something amiss and went under the ride to try and figure out the problem when it suddenly crashed. He was caught underneath it and suffered serious injuries. Navsari superintendent of police Sushil Agrawal told TOI: “After the accident, police personnel who were already at the spot took control of the situation. We ensured there was no panic and people evacuated the area safely. We moved the injured to a hospital immediately. We have started a probe to determine if negligence led to this incident.” Surendranagar resident Viral Pithava, the proprietor of Shivam Engineering Works, had been given permission to run seven amusement rides at the fair. The permission was granted by the Navsari collector after checking clearances from various departments. Despite this, the accident occurred. The collector has formed a committee under the executive engineer (R&B department) with the DySP (HQ), chief officer, chief district health officers, electric inspector, assistant tax commissioner and fire officer as its members. The collector has asked the committee to submit its report in 15 days.