UK girl dies at Matheran: Cops, horse owners to come up with safeguards

After a seven-year-old British tourist died after falling off a horse at Matheran on Tuesday, the Raigad police have decided to devise preventive measures to avert such incidents in future.

After a seven-year-old British tourist died after falling off a horse at Matheran on Tuesday, the Raigad police have decided to devise preventive measures to avert such incidents in future.

Hundreds of people, including several foreign nationals, visit the hill station during the summer vacation. Its proximity to Mumbai and Pune makes Matheran a popular gateway for urban residents.

The victim, India Gavin Mathew, had gone to Matheran on Monday with her parents and three siblings. After she fell off the horse she was riding, she was dragged for around 100 metres, the police said. She later died of head injuries.

“The Tuesday incident was purely an accident. It did not happen because of someone’s negligence. Even the victim’s father has not registered any complaint against the horse owner. However, we do not want a similar accident,” said Shashikant Mahavarkar, superintendent of police, Raigad.

“We will visit Matheran in the next few days and meet the horse owners there. We will see if they are violating any norms or have any other genuine issues,” he added.

According to Harshvardhan Barve, in-charge of Matheran police station, a total of 460 horses are used at the hill station for sight-seeing.

“The licences of the horse owners are renewed every year and we closely examine the horses. No new licenses have been issued in the past 15 years. All horses operating here are fit for carrying tourists,” Barve said.