KARACHI, July 28: The city district government on Wednesday sealed all the ill-maintained rides, slides and swings at the Aladin Amusement Park , including its swimming pool, following the death of three children in the park in the recent past.

In another development, the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, imposed Section 144 CrPC, prohibiting the operation of the rides, swings (mechanical, conventional and electrical) and swimming pool and water slides for seven days.

He directed the managements of all the parks to ensure effective safety measures for the protection of human lives. The Nazim also asked a three-member committee of the City Government to immediately start an investigation into the operation of such types of games/rides in other companies within three days and submit him a report at the earliest. The committee was earlier tasked to investigate the causes of tragic accidents at the Aladin Park.

The other parks which would be subjected to monitoring and about which an exercise similar to that of Aladin Park would be undertaken include Sindbad, Clifton's Playland, Hill Park and Zoological Garden, according to Qazi Saddaruddin, City Nazim's representative on the committee, who is also chairman of the CDGK's community development committee.

Earlier, on receiving the findings of the CDGK's three-member committee, the City Nazim stated in his comments on an official note-sheet that the CDGK could not take any more risk as there was a threat to human lives and three lives have already been lost.

"By signing an agreement, we have not given the company a free hand to kill or let the innocent persons be killed," the Nazim stated. He also issued directives for setting up of a technical committee to investigate the operation of all the items, adding "till the completion of the investigation, all the operations be stopped and sealed and it should be ensured that none is operated during the period".

While issuing these directives to the committee, the Nazim sought compliance of his directives positively by July 29. Shortly after receiving the Nazim's directives, a seven- member body of the CDGK's officials, headed by Executive District Officer (Revenue), Mohammad Waseem, visited the Aladin Park on Wednesday and sealed the following rides, swings and swimming pool.

The sealed items include Pirate Ship, Troika, Ferris Wheel, Bouncing Castle, UFO-2000, Calwon Around, Moon Star, Duck, Elephant, Flying Carpet, Crazy Boat, Lady-Bird, Mono-Cycle, Himalia, Tornado, Train-Truck, Shake-Off, Free Hall, Mini-Baloon, E-Scooter, Aladin Express, Cyclone, swimming pool and boating.

The committee has also asked the park's management to comply with the orders of the City Nazim in letter and spirit and ensure that no deviation takes place until the investigation is completed and findings are submitted to the Nazim.

Meanwhile, the enquiry committee in its report about the Aladin Park has recommended that the company be bound to render certificate each year on periodical check of installation to ensure safe and smooth operation as laid down in Article 13 (ii) of the lease agreement.

Besides, the company might be asked as to how fatal accidents took place in the past, showing reasons, thereof, and whether any compensation was paid to the bereaved family and what precautionary measures have been taken in the wake of such accidents.

The committee's other recommendations include provision of emergency brakes in all such dangerous rides to bring them to an instant halt; an ambulance be made available at the park which should be centrally-positioned with an experienced driver with all necessary life-saving medical aids; qualified (MBBS) male and female doctors be employed to give first-aid in case of emergencies; sufficient oxygen cylinders filled with oxygen be available in the first-aid room and must be checked by the doctor regularly; only female divers/lifeguards be provided in the female swimming pool and a minimum of two operators be deputed to handle a ride and they should not leave without a reliever; a minimum of three operators be employed for handling the dangerous rides; the staff on operating dangerous rides must have an adequate experience after undergoing proper training; no ride be started without closing the gates of protective fence, and in accordance with Article No 13 (iv) of lease agreement of 30.05.'95 M/s A A Joyland be asked to pay compensation to the bereaved families; the administration/ supervisor should not allow any operator to leave his site before providing a reliever; whereas the park's pirate ship should remain sealed and should not be allowed to operate unless cent per cent renovation has been completed and a certificate rendered by the company certifying that the ride is completely safe for the public use.

According to PPI, the inquiry committee tasked to investigate the tragic incident involving the death of Mohsin Khan stated in its findings that "Bilaluddin, the operator of the Pirate Ship, left his place without any reliever due to which gate was left unattended and Mohsin Khan, with his family was able to reach the boarding platform unabated. This negligence of the operator led to the accident.

According to the contents of the report, Mohsin Khan trespassed the barrier through gate where no guard or operator was on duty at that time because Bilaluddin, operator had gone to washroom.

The Pirate Ship had completed its run and the operator had applied brakes to stop it. The ship had not come to a stop when Mohsin tried to jump into the ship. Unfortunately he lost his grip and fell into the gap between the walls of platform and sustained serious injuries and succumbed to his injuries due to unavailability of ambulance.