Happyland amusement park in Thiruvananthapuram will face stricter annual safety inspections and licensing conditions after the Kerala State Human Rights Commission directed Manickal grama panchayat to obtain clearances from multiple departments before renewing the park’s operating licence.
The directions follow the collapse of a swing chair ride at the park on May 28, 2026, in which visitors were seriously injured. SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas directed the panchayat secretary to obtain yearly no-objection certificates from the electrical inspectorate, fire and rescue services, public works department, structural stability authorities and the food safety department.
The commission also instructed the panchayat to verify the fitness of every ride before licence renewal. If required, the secretary must seek the assistance of an assistant engineer from the mechanical wing of the public works department during the inspection. The checks must establish that machinery used in the rides does not show signs of deterioration or cracks.
In its order, the commission observed that prolonged use and ageing of machinery at the bottom of the ride had caused deterioration. Cracks were detected in the weld joints, and the commission said inadequate maintenance could have contributed to the accident. The directions place responsibility on the local panchayat to ensure that inspection requirements are completed before allowing the park to continue operations.
The SHRC also referred to an earlier drowning incident at the park’s swimming pool. It directed the authorities to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place at the pool to prevent further accidents. The order therefore covers both mechanical ride safety and water-based visitor facilities within the amusement park.
The police have separately been directed to complete their investigation into Crime No. 520/2026, registered by Venjaramoodu Police in connection with the ride collapse. The commission asked the police to file a final chargesheet before the court at the earliest if the investigation remains pending.
The proceedings began as a suo motu case registered by the commission based on newspaper reports about the May 28 accident. The directions make annual multi-department clearances, ride fitness checks, machinery inspection and pool safety measures part of the compliance process to be followed before the park’s licence is renewed.
