Man climbs Kolkata lamp post, demands audience with chief minister for 40 minutes
A mentally challenged individual scaled a lamp post on Tala Bridge in Kolkata, shouting for a meeting with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, prompting a multi-agency rescue that lasted about 40 minutes.
In the late afternoon on Tuesday, a mentally challenged man walked to an electric pole on Tala Bridge in Kolkata and climbed to its top, securing his shirt around the metal frame. While perched there, he recorded the gathering below, performed balancing acts and repeatedly shouted that he wanted to speak with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, even threatening a local officer-in-charge. The incident caused commuters between Shyambazar and Chiria More to stop, creating a tense stand-off that lasted nearly 40 minutes.
Police, firefighters and disaster-management teams responded, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation deployed a tree-trimming vehicle to bring the man down safely. After being rescued, he was detained for questioning as authorities investigate the circumstances of the episode.
Why it matters
The episode disrupted traffic and highlighted safety challenges when individuals with mental health issues create public hazards.
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