Around 6pm on Monday, a routine evening turned into a panic-stricken ordeal for 30 people aboard a roller coaster at an amusement park in Injambakkam, Chennai. The ride—“Topgun”—stalled suddenly at its peak, some 50 feet above the ground, after a loud, mechanical noise rang out.
The passengers included eight children and ten women. Many of them began to shout for help as the ride hung still in the air. It was meant to climb vertically and descend with force, but instead it came to a jerking stop mid-cycle.
Frantic moments and delayed rescue
Park staff initially tried to handle the situation on their own. They brought in a crane that was already on site. But it was no use—the crane couldn’t reach the height needed. The delay only increased the panic.
A woman on the ride later told PTI, “Panic broke out on the ride, but help did not arrive for nearly two hours.” A man stuck alongside her said, “I used my mobile phone and Instagram account to seek police help.”
It wasn’t until a team from the fire and rescue department was called in that proper action began. A group of 35 personnel, including local police, reached the scene from Guindy. They arrived with a sky-lift capable of stretching up to 150 feet.
Rescue by sky-lift begins after sunset
The rescue operation began around 8.30pm—almost three hours after the ride first malfunctioned. It took about an hour to lower all the passengers to safety.
Fire personnel distributed biscuits and water to those still stuck as the work continued. On the ground, medical teams gave immediate first aid once people were brought down. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
Adyar Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pon Karthik Kumar, supervised the entire rescue.
Negligence suspected as cause
Authorities have now opened an investigation into the amusement park’s safety procedures. The Neelankarai police registered a case soon after the rescue was completed.
“Preliminary findings suggest the ride was not properly maintained and had preexisting mechanical issues that were ignored by the operators,” said one of the investigating officers.
District fire officer Loganathan confirmed that “It is suspected that a mechanical fault left the giant ride stuck in midair.”
As the event unfolded and details emerged, many parents and bystanders turned to social media, particularly X, to express their frustration. Several questioned why there were no trained emergency staff at the park and demanded accountability from the management.
The incident has brought back focus on the safety of amusement park rides and how well emergency systems are prepared to handle mechanical failures.
(With inputs from TOI)
The passengers included eight children and ten women. Many of them began to shout for help as the ride hung still in the air. It was meant to climb vertically and descend with force, but instead it came to a jerking stop mid-cycle.
Frantic moments and delayed rescue
Park staff initially tried to handle the situation on their own. They brought in a crane that was already on site. But it was no use—the crane couldn’t reach the height needed. The delay only increased the panic.
A woman on the ride later told PTI, “Panic broke out on the ride, but help did not arrive for nearly two hours.” A man stuck alongside her said, “I used my mobile phone and Instagram account to seek police help.”
It wasn’t until a team from the fire and rescue department was called in that proper action began. A group of 35 personnel, including local police, reached the scene from Guindy. They arrived with a sky-lift capable of stretching up to 150 feet.
Rescue by sky-lift begins after sunset
The rescue operation began around 8.30pm—almost three hours after the ride first malfunctioned. It took about an hour to lower all the passengers to safety.
Fire personnel distributed biscuits and water to those still stuck as the work continued. On the ground, medical teams gave immediate first aid once people were brought down. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
Adyar Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pon Karthik Kumar, supervised the entire rescue.
Negligence suspected as cause
Authorities have now opened an investigation into the amusement park’s safety procedures. The Neelankarai police registered a case soon after the rescue was completed.
“Preliminary findings suggest the ride was not properly maintained and had preexisting mechanical issues that were ignored by the operators,” said one of the investigating officers.
District fire officer Loganathan confirmed that “It is suspected that a mechanical fault left the giant ride stuck in midair.”
As the event unfolded and details emerged, many parents and bystanders turned to social media, particularly X, to express their frustration. Several questioned why there were no trained emergency staff at the park and demanded accountability from the management.
The incident has brought back focus on the safety of amusement park rides and how well emergency systems are prepared to handle mechanical failures.
(With inputs from TOI)
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