A nine-year-old boy named Joel was seriously injured after the horse he was riding in Kodaikanal went out of control and dragged him along the road near Star Lake. The incident occurred when the horse panicked while being stopped for a photo, causing Joel to lose balance and sustain multiple injuries. He was rushed to Kodaikanal Government Hospital and later referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for further treatment.
Joel, who was visiting Kodaikanal with his family from Virudhunagar district, was riding a hired horse under the supervision of its caretaker, Pandi. The horse suddenly pulled free from the handler, causing Joel’s leg to get briefly entangled before he fell to the ground and was dragged for a short distance. The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which went viral on social media, raising concerns among tourists, especially with the expected increase in summer crowds in April and May.
The incident has sparked concern among tourists and locals in Kodaikanal, with many expressing worry about the safety of horse riding activities in the area. The viral footage has drawn attention to the need for stricter safety measures and regulations to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future, especially as the summer crowd is expected to swell in the coming months.
