Kochi: The city of Kochi breathed a sigh of relief early Sunday morning after a dramatic “cat mission” ended in success. The feline, affectionately named Subhash, which had been stranded on pillar number 556 near Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station, was safely rescued at 1:30 AM by personnel from the Gandhi Nagar Fire Station and members of an animal rescue team. The cat was subsequently taken into care by the rescue team.

Subhash had been trapped on the metro pillar for two weeks, attracting a large crowd eager to witness the rescue. As the cat was finally brought down, onlookers cheered and applauded in delight. Traffic congestion was reported along Banerji Road during the operation, with some members of the public taking it upon themselves to manage the flow of vehicles.

The rescue attempt began on Saturday morning at 11 AM with the arrival of a crane and an animal rescue vehicle. When asked about the operation, a security officer at a nearby establishment simply remarked, “It’s a small cat mission.” Kochi Metro services were disrupted for 17 minutes, and traffic was temporarily restricted in front of the Stadium Station.

The cat was first spotted by metro employees, who tried several methods to coax it down without success. As Subhash occasionally peered over the edge of the pillar onto the road below, it quickly captured the attention of nearby auto-rickshaw drivers. They nicknamed the cat “Subhash,” inspired by a character from the movie Manjummal Boys, who had fallen into the darkness of a cave.

When initial attempts failed, metro staff began providing food and water. The cat would hide inside the pillar whenever people approached. The animal rescue team had been informed on Friday, arriving on Saturday morning with the necessary equipment, though they initially struggled to locate the cat. Reports soon emerged that Subhash was in a weakened state, prompting animal lovers to gather near the stadium and press for a swift rescue.

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Cat stuck on a metro pillar, daytime rescue operation | Photo: Screen grab/Mathrubhumi News, Mathrubhumi

The cat was eventually brought down with the help of a hydraulic lift. Eight members of the Gandhi Nagar Fire Station scaled the pillar while a team stationed below held a safety net to prevent injury in case the cat fell.

During the operation, two rescuers descended the pillar, but the cat initially ran away. The metro’s power supply to the tracks had been disconnected prior to the ascent, resulting in the 17-minute service disruption. A temporary malfunction of the lift at the top of the pillar also caused concern. Once the officers were safely brought down, a replacement lift was brought in within an hour. Considering that further inspection would have disrupted metro services again, it was decided to extend the rescue into the night, ultimately ensuring the cat’s safe recovery.