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Dramatic Rescue: Family and Staff Brought Down from Crane‑Suspended 'Sky Dining' Table 125 ft Above Kerala

A family of four and a staff member were rescued from a crane‑suspended "sky dining" table about 125 feet above Anachal, Idukki, after a hydraulic failure left the platform stuck on Nov. 28. Rescuers used harnesses, ropes and a safety net to lower each person safely by about 4:30 p.m. Local officials say the attraction lacked a required civic licence and have issued a stop memo while police investigate potential endangerment charges.

Dramatic Rescue: Family and Staff Brought Down from Crane‑Suspended 'Sky Dining' Table 125 ft Above Kerala

A family of four and a restaurant employee were safely rescued after becoming stranded for hours on a floating "sky dining" platform suspended roughly 125 feet above a village in Kerala.

The incident

The platform, part of a crane‑lifted dining attraction overlooking the village of Anachal in Idukki district, became stuck at about 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 when a hydraulic malfunction prevented operators from lowering the crane. The family, visiting from Mangalapuram, and an on‑duty staff member were left immobilised on the table until rescue crews arrived.

The rescue

Video shared on social media by the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shows rescuers rigging safety harnesses and ropes and lowering each person individually while colleagues held a safety net beneath the platform. The four family members — Muhammed Safwan, 31; Thoufeena Safwan, 25; and their two children, one of whom is two years old — and a 28‑year‑old employee named Haripriya were all brought safely to the ground by about 4:30 p.m.

Aftermath and investigation

The attraction is operated by Southern Skies Aerodynamic. Local authorities say the operator reportedly failed to inform police and fire services immediately after the platform stalled. Inspectors later found the business operating without a required civic licence and issued a stop memo. Police have filed a case against the operators, alleging endangerment of human life and acts that could imperil public safety. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"It is a relief that those who were trapped ... were able to be brought safely down," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on social media, praising the Munnar fire and rescue team for completing a mission that lasted hours.

Authorities continue to investigate the mechanical cause of the failure and whether safety and licensing rules were followed at the attraction.

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