Tourists stuck in 'sky-dining' restaurant rescued in Kerala
Idukki (PTI): Four tourists, with two children among them, were stranded about 150 feet above ground near Anachal on Friday after the crane lifting a 'sky-dining' restaurant malfunctioned.
The group was stuck for over two hours before the fire and rescue personnel reached the site around 4 pm after learning about the incident from news reports. The team rescued the four-member family safely.
Visuals on television showed personnel climbing ropes to reach the restaurant.
The two children and their mother were brought down first, followed by the father and a female restaurant staff member. By around 4.30 pm, all four tourists and the staff member had been safely evacuated.
The staff member told TV channels that there was no panic as they had received training to handle such situations. She said the family was from Kozhikode.
A fire official said the restaurant management did not seek assistance from the fire and rescue service, but units from Munnar and Adimali were dispatched after reports of the incident emerged.
An officer from Adimali police station said the management also did not inform the police, and it was residents who alerted authorities.
Locals reported that the tourists had been stranded since around 1.30 pm.
The official added that the crane’s hydraulics appear to have malfunctioned, leaving the restaurant suspended over a hundred feet above ground.
The ‘sky-dining’ experience is part of the adventure tourism initiative in the hill district, the official noted.
Tourists were stranded at a 120 feet sky dining centre in #Munnar Idukki area of #Kerala today after a crane developed a technical snag.
— Sujit Gupta (@sujitnewslive) November 28, 2025
All the stranded people were rescued using ropes and wires.#skydining #Kerala #Tourist #Rescue #skyrestaurant #SkyHotel #Suffering pic.twitter.com/MkWiBD7wYi
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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