French tourist dies after falling from high platform at Fatehpur Sikri Fort

A group of tourists from France were taking selfies inside Fatehpur Sikri Fort when the wooden railing broke. The woman fell off 5-foot-high platform, landing on the stone floor.

Fatehpur Sikri Fort | Wikimedia Commons

Agra: A French tourist died after allegedly falling from a high platform at the Fatehpur Sikri Fort on Thursday.

Superintending archaeologist, ASI, Raj Kumar Patel, told ThePrint that a group of tourists from France were taking selfies at the Turkish Sultana Palace near the Khwabgah monument inside Fatehpur Sikri Fort when the wooden railing broke. “While other tourists managed to regain balance, Esma (61) fell off the 5-foot-high platform, landing on the stone floor,” he said, adding that she had sustained grievous injuries to her head.

She was rushed to a private hospital in Agra, where she was declared dead.

Patel said that although there was no blood, the tourist was unconscious, so it was a probable head injury. The staff of the Archaeological Survey of India called an emergency ambulance, but it arrived quite late.

Meanwhile, some of the guides present at the monument somehow arranged an ambulance.

Patel told ThePrint that the tourist group had come to Fatehpur Sikri from Udaipur. “The District Magistrate of Agra was informed about the incident, and an ASI official was sent to the hospital to coordinate with the tour leader, but Esma had passed away by the time the official reached,” he added.

A local tour guide, on the condition of anonymity, said that the wooden railing that broke had been installed after the pandemic, but its structure was loose, which caused it to sag and break when the woman leaned on it.

“There was no ambulance available in the entire town, which is shocking, as the monument attracts thousands of tourists every month. The ambulance had to be sourced from about 20 km away in Kiraoli, and by the time it reached the hospital, it was too late.”

District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami, DCP City, and the Chief Medical Officer arrived at the hospital after learning of the death. Goswami spoke with the female tourist’s spouse. According to Esma’s spouse, a group of 20 individuals had come from France to explore Agra. “The mishap occurred while taking photographs on the railing near the Diwan-e-Khas in Fatehpur Sikri. A magisterial enquiry into the entire affair has been ordered. More precautions are being taken in the fort to ensure the safety of tourists. An investigation of the ambulance’s late arrival is underway. If negligence is discovered, strict action will be taken,” he added.