Viral video shows riderless bike circling ‘maut ka kuan' after performer falls at ‘Sawan' fair in UP

Indian Express

2 days ago

A dramatic incident at the Sawan fair in Maharajganj's Panchmukhi Shiva Temple left visitors stunned on Monday evening, after a stunt went horribly wrong inside the infamous 'Well of Death' (Maut Ka Kuan). A performer lost control and was thrown off his motorcycle mid-act. The bike, however, didn't stop. In a bizarre twist, it kept circling the cylindrical structure on its own for nearly an hour, drawing gasps from the crowd.
The mishap occurred in the Itahia area under Thuthibari Kotwali police limits, where the temple fair is being held as part of the Sawan festivities. A video of the moment has since gone viral, capturing the riderless motorcycle racing along the vertical walls while spectators watched in disbelief. The clip also shows two cars and several individuals still inside the structure as the bike continued its haunting loop.
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Authorities stepped in soon after. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nand Prakash Maurya confirmed that while the fair had official clearance for swing rides, no permission was granted for the stunt show.
'The stunt arena was set up arbitrarily by the ride operator without specific permission,' Maurya told The Times of India. 'On Monday, a youth performing inside the well fell and sustained injuries during the stunt.'
In response to the incident, officials have shut down the Well of Death and issued strict safety instructions for the remaining rides at the fair.
The 'Maut Ka Kuan', often referred to as the 'Well of Death' or 'Wall of Death', is a high-adrenaline stunt show commonly seen at traditional fairs and carnivals. In this act, performers on motorcycles, and occasionally in cars, speed around the inner walls of a giant vertical cylinder. Relying on centrifugal force, they manage to cling to the near-vertical surface, giving the illusion of defying gravity and leaving spectators both thrilled and amazed.