Wonderla Chennai, an ambitious ₹611-crore amusement park located in Thiruporur, near Chennai, opened its doors to the public on December 2, 2025, following a virtual inauguration by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 1.
The park promised to be a premier destination for entertainment enthusiasts, featuring 43 rides and attractions including India’s first Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted roller coaster, “Tanjora.” However, the grand opening faced significant disruptions as a series of ride malfunctions marred the first day of operations.
A power outage induced by Cyclone Ditwah led to several rides stalling mid-air, most notably the coaster ride which left 12 visitors stranded roughly 30 feet above ground for 20 to 30 minutes.
Despite no reported injuries, the incidents sparked widespread public outrage and raised serious concerns about the park’s safety preparedness and emergency protocols.
Visitor Experience and Official Responses
On the opening day, over 2,000 visitors flocked to the sprawling 64-acre park, eager to experience its rides amid heavy rain and intermittent power supply. However, the excitement quickly turned to distress as multiple rides stopped functioning properly.
Social media filled with videos showing frightened riders stuck in precarious positions waiting for rescue, and crowds expressing frustration over the delays and lack of clear communication from park staff.
The roller coaster incident drew significant attention, with the stranded riders safely evacuated after rescue teams intervened. Amid these events, Managing Director Arun Chittilappilly publicly addressed the situation through social media, explaining that the ride malfunctions were caused by power fluctuations and outages linked to the cyclone.
Chittilappilly stated, “We experienced many power outages due to the cyclone, which caused delays for our guests. I assure everyone our rides are safe, and no structural faults occurred. Backup systems functioned properly, and all riders were evacuated safely.”
While apologising for the inconveniences caused, he emphasized the park’s commitment to safety and promised enhancements in operational responses moving forward, including strengthened backup power provisions.
Nonetheless, some visitors expressed dissatisfaction with the park’s handling of the situation, citing lack of timely information and perceived unpreparedness for adverse weather scenarios affecting ride operations.
Wonderla’s Expansion Amid Past Challenges
Wonderla Chennai represents the fifth amusement park outlet for Wonderla Holidays Ltd and marks the company’s first foray into Tamil Nadu.
This expansion underscores a vision to boost regional tourism and create around 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, with tickets priced starting at ₹1,489 and discounts for seniors and students. The park’s development spanned nearly a decade, reflecting a significant economic and leisure investment in the area.
However, the opening day glitches inevitably drew parallels with incidents at Wonderla’s Bengaluru park in 2019, where a roller coaster malfunction caused injuries to four riders due to a sudden power failure.
That episode had prompted investigations and led to renewed safety protocols focused on ride maintenance and emergency power systems.
According to officials, the Chennai park was equipped with rigorous safety mechanisms aligned with international standards and boasts a 25-year record of serving 48 million guests nationwide with minimal incidents.
The day one disruptions, spurred by extreme weather conditions, highlight the unpredictable challenges amusement parks face, especially with external factors like cyclones affecting power infrastructure.
The Management has since reinforced operational procedures, including plans to install more robust backup power systems to prevent recurrence. The company also assures ongoing staff training and emergency drills to ensure smooth handling of unforeseen issues and enhanced guest safety awareness.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The opening of a world-class amusement park inherently brings enthusiasm, joy, and positive economic impacts to the region. However, such milestones must never overshadow the absolute priority of visitor safety and transparent communication. The occurrences at Wonderla Chennai resonate as a cautionary tale on preparedness for natural calamities and infrastructure vulnerabilities that can abruptly compromise safety.
The Logical Indian advocates for a people-centred approach in planning and managing such public spaces where emergency readiness, clear communication, and sincere accountability are embedded as fundamental practices. A thrilling ride must never translate into fear or distress, and businesses must handle setbacks with empathy for affected individuals and a proactive commitment to improvement.
