18 People Rescued from Stuck Giant Wheel at Kagal Fair After Midnight Operation

Kolhapur: A tense situation unfolded at the ongoing Shri Gahininath Gaibipir Urus fair in Kagal when a giant wheel ride suddenly stopped due to a technical malfunction, leaving 18 people stranded mid-air for nearly four hours.

The incident occurred late at night when the ride reportedly stalled due to overcapacity. Attempts by the ride operator to restart it failed, and when the wheel descended a few feet, it got jammed again, increasing panic among the passengers.

One of the attendees, Anand Hegde, immediately informed municipal employee Balasaheb Mali, who in turn contacted Kolhapur Fire Brigade Chief Manish Ranbhise and District Disaster Management Officer Prasad Sankpal. After seeking special permission from District Collector Amol Yedge, a turntable ladder crane (150 ft) was rushed from Kolhapur to Kagal for the rescue operation.

After hours of coordinated efforts, the Kolhapur Municipal Fire Brigade and local rescue teams successfully evacuated all 18 trapped citizens safely, with no injuries reported. The quick response from the fire brigade and police prevented a potential tragedy.

Among the rescued were Mahadev Laxman Patil, Archana Mahadev Patil, Shrayas Amar Dhanwade, Nihira Sachin Karale, Sahil Rafik, and others from Kagal, Gokul Shirgaon, Pune, and Uttar Pradesh. The first three were safely brought down using the crane onto a nearby building terrace.

Speaking after the rescue, survivor Mahadev Patil said, “We were terrified when the ride stopped. It felt like coming back from heaven when we finally reached the ground safely.” Another rescued passenger, Nihira Karale, expressed deep gratitude towards the rescuers, saying, “They saved our lives; I’ll never forget this night.”

Kolhapur Fire Brigade Officer Jaywant Khot stated that the team acted immediately after receiving the distress call and ensured all passengers were brought down safely.

The ride operator has been detained for inquiry, and authorities are investigating whether proper permission was obtained from the municipal administration for the installation of the amusement ride.

The timely action by the fire brigade, police, and local administration averted what could have been a major disaster.