CHENNAI: Thirty people, including eight children and ten women, were trapped for nearly three hours after a roller coaster malfunctioned at a private amusement park on East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai on Monday evening. All were later rescued safely by fire and rescue services personnel.The incident occurred around 6pm when the “Topgun” roller coaster abruptly came to a halt at a height of about 50 feet after a loud noise. The ride, which ascends vertically before descending at high speed, stopped mid-cycle, leaving its occupants stranded.Amusement park employees attempted to rescue the riders by using a crane. But the equipment was unable to reach the required height. The fire department was alerted, and a rescue team from Guindy arrived with a sky-lift vehicle capable of reaching up to 150 feet. Rescue efforts began around 8.30 pm and lasted an hour. Fire personnel distributed biscuits and water to those stuck on the ride before lowering each of them to safety. Medical teams stationed at the site provided first aid to the rescued people, none of whom sustained serious injuries.Adyar deputy commissioner of police Pon Karthik Kumar supervised the rescue operation. The Neelankarai police registered a case and launched an investigation into the amusement park’s safety practices.“Preliminary findings suggest the ride was not properly maintained and had pre-existing mechanical issues that were ignored by the operators,” said an investigation officer.
