The parents of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died on June 16 in New York City after falling from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park, have broken their silence, demanding the industry's permanent closure as rides resumed on Tuesday.

Romanch Mahajan and his family were visiting from India when the incident occurred. The carriage driver had stopped to take a photo of the family when the horse reportedly bolted. Romanch jumped from the carriage in an attempt to help his mother, who had fallen out, but he also fell, hitting his head on the ground. He was later pronounced dead.

"Rather than banning it permanently, you're resuming it," said Deepak Mahajan, the teen's father. "It's a shame for us. It's a shame for everyone. For humanity, it is a shame."

Romanch's uncle, Gaurav Mahajan, directly addressed New York City Mayor Eric Adams, questioning the cost of safety. "I just want to ask one thing to Mayor Adams and to the Speaker: What does it take? What's the cost? What's the price to make sure this never happens again?" he stated. "We've already paid the price with the loss of our child. He's gone. We're never going to be able to bring him back. What happens now? Do we just move on and call it a day?"

The incident has reignited a long-standing debate over the 150-year-old horse-drawn carriage industry in Central Park, with opponents citing concerns about animal welfare and public safety.

Christina Hansen, a spokesperson for Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, stated that steps are being taken to ensure the carriages remain "the safest form of transportation in Midtown, Manhattan." However, Alexander Kemp, a vice president of TWU Local 100, acknowledged that the fatal incident should not have happened, noting that the driver appeared to be "at least at arm’s length from his horse," which he called unacceptable.

PETA Director Ashley Byrne also issued a statement, urging for the immediate passage of Ryder's Law, which aims to ban horse-drawn carriage rides. "For everyone's safety, PETA is calling on council members, Health Committee Chair Lynn Schulman, and Speaker Julie Menin to stop dithering and pass Ryder's Law immediately," Byrne said.

Council Member Christopher Marte has announced plans to rename a City Council proposal, Ryder's Law, to Romanch's Law in honor of the teen.

This incident follows other recent issues involving horses in the park. Last week, a horse named Deniz died after ingesting toxic foliage from a Japanese Yew, according to a report from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine circulated by TWU Local 100. The horse had been under the care of carriage driver Nurettin Kirbiyik at the time of its collapse on June 9.