The fatal horse-carriage accident that claimed the life of an 18-year-old tourist visiting from India has reignited efforts at City Hall to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in New York City, with several lawmakers suggesting the tragedy could mark a turning point for the long-debated industry.

A number of City Council members said the incident — believed to be the first passenger fatality involving a horse carriage in recent memory — has intensified calls for sweeping changes and may finally generate enough momentum to outlaw the practice altogether.

“Is it the straw that broke the camel’s back? I think so,” said Councilman Frank Morano, a Staten Island Republican and co-sponsor of “Ryder’s Law,” which would outlaw horse carriages in New York City.

“We have an 18-year-old boy who came here to celebrate his graduation who is leaving in a coffin. It’s totally unacceptable,” Morano told The NY Post on Thursday.

Arguing that the industry has exhausted any benefit of the doubt, Morano added, “The time for treating these accidents as isolated incidents is over. It is an industry that no longer makes sense.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also voiced support for eliminating horse-drawn carriage rides from Central Park, a position he adopted during his campaign.

“I support removing horse carriages from Central Park,” Mamdani said in January.

The mayor joins predecessors Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio, both of whom backed similar proposals during their administrations, though neither succeeded in pushing a ban through.

Supporters of the carriage industry, including representatives of the drivers’ union, contend that calls for a ban routinely surface after accidents involving horses but fade over time. They argue that investigations have consistently shown the animals receive proper care and that past efforts to outlaw the industry have repeatedly stalled.

Still, advocates for stricter animal-welfare protections believe the current City Council may be more receptive than previous ones. Earlier this year, lawmakers established an animal welfare caucus comprising 20 of the council’s 51 members, including Morano.

Council Speaker Julie Menin has scheduled a hearing next month on Ryder’s Law. The measure is named after Ryder, a carriage horse that collapsed while working in Central Park during a hot day in August 2022. Although the legislation failed to advance last year, supporters hope the latest tragedy will change that.

“In the past two weeks alone, we have seen the tragic deaths of both a horse and now a teenage carriage passenger, Romanch Mahajan,” Menin said, referring to the June 9 death of a carriage horse named Deniz, which authorities believe may have ingested a poisonous plant in Central Park.

“These incidents demonstrate that it’s time to chart a better path forward that addresses animal welfare and public safety, and also ensures the livelihood and economic prosperity of the workers,” Menin said.

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat from Staten Island, said the latest accident demands action from city leaders.

“Something has to change. This tragedy is a call for the City Council to respond. We have to take an honest and sobering look at the horse carriage industry.”

Not all council members agree that a ban is the appropriate response. Queens Councilman James Gennaro argued that the “unthinkable tragedy” stemmed from “human error” rather than concerns about animal treatment.

Instead of prohibiting carriage rides outright, Gennaro is promoting legislation aimed at strengthening safety measures. His proposal would require designated hitching posts in Central Park so horses can be secured while passengers board, exit, or take photographs, and would also mandate enhanced training requirements for carriage operators.

Meanwhile, industry representatives acknowledged they are facing intense scrutiny in the wake of the fatal accident.

“We’re absolutely gutted and stunned by this tragedy. We’ve never had a fatal accident like this before,” said Alexander Kemp, administrative vice president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents carriage drivers.

Kemp said the industry has temporarily halted operations while conducting an extensive review of safety procedures.

“We have shuttered the stables and ceased operations today while we have extensive internal discussions of safety protocols and how they can be improved,” said Kemp, who supports Gennaro’s bill, not an outright ban on the carriage industry.

Christina Hansen, a carriage driver and TWU shop steward, accused animal-rights groups of using the incident to advance a long-standing political agenda.

“Let’s take a step back and not to rush judgment,” she said.