Reel stunt goes wrong: Youths get trapped atop water tank for 16 hrs

Lucknow: A social media reel attempt turned into a prolonged ordeal in Lucknow after a group of youths got stranded atop a water tanker in Siddharth Nagar, triggering a high-stakes rescue operation that lasted over 16 hours.

The incident occurred on Saturday when the youths climbed onto the tanker to shoot a video. Trouble began when the ladder they had used to access the top slipped and fell, leaving them trapped with no way to descend.

Authorities were alerted soon after, prompting an emergency response. While the National Disaster Response Force was initially considered for the rescue, heavy rain prevented its vehicles from reaching the location, forcing officials to shift plans and call in the fire and emergency services.

With ground efforts proving insufficient, the operation escalated to an aerial rescue. A Mi-17 V5 helicopter from the Central Air Command was deployed to the site in the early hours. The aircraft arrived around 5:20 am and completed the rescue within 15 minutes, bringing the long-drawn crisis to a close.

The episode has raised fresh concerns over the risks associated with social media stunts, as what began as a routine video shoot quickly spiralled into a dangerous situation requiring military-level intervention.