A tourist suffered serious injuries after plunging nearly 40 feet from a zipline when the ride’s safety lock reportedly snapped at a resort in southern India.
The incident occurred on July 3 at the Sterling River Resort in Dandeli, Karnataka.
The victim, Kuber Surpur, 24, survived the fall but sustained multiple fractures to his arms and legs, along with severe nerve damage.
A video of the incident shows Surpur gliding along the zipline before the safety lock suddenly gave way, sending him crashing to the ground within seconds.
The footage was recorded by his brother, Prashant, who was watching the ride.
Surpur was initially taken to Dandeli Government Hospital before being transferred to a specialist hospital in Miraj, where he underwent surgery. Doctors said he will require further operations as part of his recovery.
His family has accused the resort of failing to carry out proper safety inspections before operating the attraction.
They also claimed the resort initially promised to cover all of Surpur’s medical expenses but later stopped responding to their calls and inquiries as treatment costs continued to rise.
Calling the incident preventable, the family is demanding legal action against those responsible and the permanent suspension of the resort’s adventure sports licence.
The video has since gone viral on social media, sparking concerns over safety standards at adventure tourism attractions and prompting calls for stricter inspections of zipline operators.
Police have opened a criminal investigation into the resort’s operators on allegations of negligence that endangered visitors’ lives.
The resort’s management confirmed the incident but denied any negligence, describing it as an unfortunate accident. The manager also said he intended to meet Surpur’s family to discuss the matter.
