Giant wheel collapses at Kerala amusement park, five injured including two children

Five people, including two children, sustained injuries after a giant wheel ride collapsed at Happyland Amusement Park in Vembayam near Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:00 PM during a heavy holiday rush at the amusement park, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Venjaramoodu Police Station. According to preliminary findings, the accident was caused by a failure in the welding joints and the supporting metal structure of the ride, leading portions of the iron support frame to snap while the giant wheel was in operation. Police stated that the sudden collapse caused riders to fall from the structure. The injured were identified as Manorathi (54), Seemani (49), Malini (49), Shyam Daniel (14), and Rose (16), all tourists from Nagercoil.

Personnel from the Kerala Police and fire and rescue services immediately reached the spot and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. One woman, who sustained serious injuries, was later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for specialised medical care, while the remaining injured persons were reported to be in stable condition despite suffering fractures and other injuries.

Authorities stated that a major tragedy was averted despite the amusement park being crowded due to the ongoing school vacation season. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident, including whether the ride had undergone mandatory maintenance inspections and safety certification procedures. Officials stated that strict action would be initiated against the park management if negligence or violations of safety regulations are established.