Munnar, Nov 28 (NationPress) In a startling episode at a recently opened sky dining venue in Anachal near Munnar, located in Idukki district of Kerala, five individuals, comprised of a four-member family of tourists from Kannur and a staff member, found themselves stranded mid-air for over three hours due to a technical issue that caused the crane to malfunction, halting the dining platform's descent.

After nearly three hours of dedicated rescue operations, all five individuals were successfully brought back to safety.

This adventure tourism initiative offers guests a one-of-a-kind experience of dining 120 feet above ground. The incident took place on Friday evening when the crane unexpectedly failed to lower the platform because of a sudden mechanical glitch.

Immediate rescue efforts were launched, and authorities worked diligently to ensure the safe retrieval of everyone involved.

As a precaution, the children were rescued first, including a toddler aged just two-and-a-half years.

Officials reported that trained personnel from the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, along with local emergency teams, coordinated the evacuation, effectively managing to prevent any panic.

Footage of the suspended dining platform, broadcasted by TV channels, garnered significant attention and raised questions regarding safety measures in adventure tourism.

Introduced recently as part of Kerala's tourism initiatives, the sky dining concept allows up to 15 guests to enjoy meals while taking in breathtaking aerial views for more than 30 minutes.

Participants are secured in seats attached to a platform elevated by a crane.

This thrilling experience has quickly gained popularity among tourists seeking excitement and novelty.

Nevertheless, Friday's incident has ignited discussions regarding safety standards and necessary regulations.

While officials attributed the incident to a technical malfunction, sources from the tourism department indicated that a comprehensive inspection would be undertaken to evaluate the operational and structural safety of the facility.

Fortunately, all participants were safely rescued without any injuries, but the event has raised concerns about the increasing trend of high-risk tourism ventures.

Local authorities have pledged that stringent safety audits will be conducted to avert such incidents in the future, with a focus on ensuring public safety while promoting the state's adventure tourism.