A high-altitude dining experience turned dangerous after a crane malfunction left tourists suspended 120 feet above ground, prompting a major rescue operation. Thanks to the swift intervention of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, all five individuals including two young children, were brought down safely.

The incident occurred in Anachal near Munnar, Idukki district, in southern India’s Kerala on November 28.

Visuals from the scene showed a firefighter climbing up the stalled platform using ropes and securing each stranded person with safety harnesses. In the footage, children were carefully held close as rescuers descended with them one by one. The images also showed the dining platform hanging motionless against the hillside backdrop while emergency crews coordinated efforts below.

Speaking to Newslions, Rakesh, Senior Fire and Rescue Officer, Idukki, Kerala, said that the hydraulic system of a newly launched sky-dining platform abruptly failed. The breakdown left the seating structure stuck mid-air shortly after 12:45 pm. According to officials, there was a significant delay before the distress call reached the fire station, which contributed to the total four-hour timeline. However, the actual rescue work took only about 30 minutes once the team arrived.

The group rescued included five people: two children, two women, and a man identified as Mohammed Safwan (31), his wife Thaufina (26), and their children Evan (6) and Inara (3), originally from Kannur but currently residing in Mangaluru along with sky-dining staff member Haripriya (28). A total of five people were stranded.

Fire and Rescue teams from Adimali and Munnar, along with local police and officials, responded to the emergency. The operation was led by Ajaya Kumar, Assistant Station Officer, Munnar Fire and Rescue Station, Idukki, Kerala, including Home Guard Anish from the Munnar station. The platform’s crane is believed to have suffered a technical malfunction, possibly linked to the fuse, rendering the hydraulic controls inoperable.

Devikulam Sub-Collector V. M. Arya coordinated the on-ground response after learning about the situation, ensuring quick deployment of rescue teams despite initial attempts by staff to fix the crane themselves. The District Collector monitored the developments, and the rescue concluded successfully around 4:30 pm.

The sky dining setup, operated by Southern Skies Aerodynamics, had opened recently as part of an adventure tourism initiative, offering diners a 30-minute aerial experience. The platform seats up to 15 people and is lifted using a crane. Authorities confirmed that timely reports were submitted for further action, and safety compliance will be examined.

Sub-Collector Arya later noted that such sky-dining experiences do not currently fall under Kerala’s Adventure Tourism regulations, raising questions about the applicable safety guidelines. While the incident ended without injuries, officials emphasized the need for stricter oversight and safety protocols for high-risk tourism activities to prevent similar emergencies in the future.