Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Aug 16: The family of Indian teenager Romanch Mahajan, who was killed when a horse pulling a carriage bolted in New York City last year, has initiated legal proceedings seeking $105 million in compensation from the city government.

The family claimed in a notice filed with the city last week that stray electricity in Central Park spooked the horse and that the incident was caused by negligence on the part of the city government.

Mahajan's family was visiting New York on holiday to celebrate his graduation from high school when they took a horse-carriage ride in Central Park on June 17 last year.

According to the family's account, the carriage driver, Ertan Gokdepe, got out to take a photograph when the horse suddenly bolted, throwing Mahajan's mother, Priya, from the carriage.

Mahajan, in an attempt to save his mother, reportedly dove after her but struck his head on the ground and died from his injuries.

The family has filed notices against the city and four of its departments, the first step towards filing a lawsuit, alleging that negligence contributed to the accident.

The notice alleges that stray voltage, among other factors, "caused, precipitated, contributed to and/or was a substantial factor" in causing the horse to bolt.

The allegation regarding stray electricity echoes a claim made by the Transport Workers Union, to which carriage driver Gokdepe belonged.

Defending the driver, the union's local unit Vice President Alexander Kemp said last month, "Blue-collar carriage drivers should not be punished for an unforeseeable hazard caused by flaws in the city's power grid."

Mahajan, 18, was from Pathankot and had recently completed Class 12 at Angel's Public School. He was preparing to begin college when the tragedy occurred.

His death subsequently gave fresh momentum to a campaign seeking a ban on horse-drawn carriages, a popular tourist attraction in New York City.

A proposed ban has been named the Romanch Mahajan Bill in his memory. The New York City Council is expected to vote on the legislation soon, with supporters claiming it has majority backing.

Mahajan's father, Deepak Mahajan, made an emotional appeal to the City Council through a video link last month, urging lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages.

"A young boy came to America full of dreams and left us far too soon," he said.

"This was not an unpredictable accident," he added. "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."