Indian teen Romanch Mahajan's family sues New York for $105 million over carriage death
Synopsis
An 18-year-old from Pathankot who jumped off a runaway Central Park carriage to save his mother — and died doing it — is now at the centre of a $105 million lawsuit against New York City. His family alleges stray electricity in the park's power grid caused the horse to bolt, a claim backed by the driver's own union. A City Council bill named after him could soon ban horse-drawn carriages in New York entirely.
Key Takeaways
The family of Romanch Mahajan , 18, from Pathankot , has filed a $105 million compensation notice against New York City and four of its departments.
Mahajan died on 17 June 2024 after hitting his head while jumping from a runaway carriage in Central Park to save his mother.
The family alleges stray electricity in Central Park spooked the horse — a claim also made by the Transport Workers Union .
Father Deepak Mahajan addressed the New York City Council via video, calling the incident 'a safety violation, a system's failure.' The Romanch Mahajan Bill , which would ban horse-drawn carriages in New York, is expected to come to a Council vote soon and reportedly has majority support.
The family of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old Indian teenager from Pathankot who died after a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park, New York, has filed a $105 million compensation claim against New York City, alleging government negligence caused the 17 June 2024 tragedy. The notice, filed last week against the city and four of its departments, marks the first formal step toward a court lawsuit.
What the Family Alleges
According to the notice, stray electricity in Central Park spooked the horse, causing it to bolt. The family contends this was among the factors that 'caused, precipitated, contributed to and/or was a substantial factor' in triggering the runaway carriage. They argue the incident was a direct consequence of the city government's failure to maintain a safe environment for visitors.
The family had travelled to New York to celebrate Mahajan's graduation from Angel's Public School, where he had recently completed his 12th standard. On the evening of the accident, the carriage driver stepped off the vehicle to take a photograph, at which point the horse bolted. Mahajan's mother, Priya Mahajan, was thrown from the carriage. In an attempt to save her, Romanch jumped after her, struck his head on the ground, and succumbed to the injury.
Union's Stray Voltage Claim
The family's allegation about stray electrical voltage echoes a position already taken by the Transport Workers Union, to which carriage driver Ertan Gokdepe belonged. Alexander Kemp, Vice President of the union's local unit, said last month: 'Blue-collar carriage drivers should not be punished for an unforeseeable hazard caused by flaws in the city's power grid.' The convergence of the family's legal claim with the union's defence puts the spotlight squarely on the city's infrastructure accountability.
Father's Emotional Appeal to City Council
Mahajan's father, Deepak Mahajan, addressed the New York City Council via video link last month, making an emotional plea for a ban on horse-drawn carriages. 'A young boy came to America full of dreams and left us far too soon,' he said. He further stated: 'This was not an unpredictable accident. It was a safety violation, a system's failure to protect the people who visit our city, your city, and everyone responsible has admitted the driver should never have left that carriage.'
The Romanch Mahajan Bill and What Comes Next
Romanch's death has given significant momentum to advocacy efforts seeking to ban horse-drawn carriages — a long-standing tourist attraction in New York City. The proposed legislation, named the Romanch Mahajan Bill in his memory, is expected to come before the City Council for a vote soon. Supporters say the bill currently has majority backing to pass. If enacted, it would mark a historic end to a practice that has faced safety and animal welfare criticism for years. The $105 million lawsuit, meanwhile, is expected to proceed to court following the statutory notice period.
Point of View
But the more consequential development may be legislative. New York's horse-drawn carriage industry has survived years of animal-welfare campaigns; it took the death of a teenage tourist — and a father's video plea to the Council — to push a ban within reach of a majority vote. The stray-voltage allegation, simultaneously raised by the family's lawyers and the driver's union, points to a systemic infrastructure failure that the city has yet to formally acknowledge. If the Romanch Mahajan Bill passes, it will be a rare instance of a single tragedy reshaping a city's tourism economy — and the lawsuit will only intensify scrutiny of what the city knew about its power grid in Central Park.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Romanch Mahajan and how did he die?
Romanch Mahajan was an 18-year-old from Pathankot who had recently graduated from Angel's Public School. He died on 17 June 2024 in New York City after jumping from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park to save his mother, Priya, striking his head on the ground and succumbing to the injury.
Why is the family suing New York City for $105 million?
The family alleges that stray electricity in Central Park spooked the horse, causing it to bolt, and that this was the result of the New York City government's negligence. They have filed notices against the city and four of its departments as the first step toward a court lawsuit seeking $105 million in compensation.
What is the Romanch Mahajan Bill?
The Romanch Mahajan Bill is proposed legislation before the New York City Council that would ban horse-drawn carriages — a popular tourist attraction — from operating in the city. Named in memory of the teenager, it is expected to come to a vote soon and reportedly has majority support among Council members.
What role did stray voltage play in the accident?
The family's legal notice alleges that stray electricity in Central Park was among the factors that caused the horse to bolt. This claim is corroborated by the Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage driver Ertan Gokdepe and has argued that flaws in the city's power grid — not the driver — were responsible for the incident.
What has Romanch Mahajan's father said about the incident?
Deepak Mahajan addressed the New York City Council via video link last month, calling the accident 'a safety violation, a system's failure to protect the people who visit our city.' He also said: 'A young boy came to America full of dreams and left us far too soon,' and urged the Council to pass the carriage ban in his son's memory.
