When a terrified cat became stranded approximately 50 feet above ground on a Kochi Metro Rail pillar in Kerala, India, an entire community refused to give up. What followed was a rescue operation that lasted nearly two weeks and ended in the most heartwarming way possible — at 1:30 in the morning, to the cheers of a crowd that had stayed up to witness the moment.

Two Weeks, 50 Feet Up

The cat — quickly named "Subhash" by locals — was first spotted stuck on pillar number 556 near the Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium metro station. How the cat got up there remains a mystery, but getting it down proved to be an enormous challenge.

The pillar sits along an active metro line, and the cat kept moving between gaps in the structure, making it impossible to simply grab. Metro staff began providing food and water to keep Subhash alive while rescue plans were drawn up. Autorickshaw drivers who park nearby were among the first to raise the alarm, and word quickly spread through the community.

A City Mobilises

Multiple rescue attempts were made over the following days, but the combination of the pillar's height, the active rail line, and the cat's understandable reluctance to cooperate made each attempt difficult. Rather than give up, the community escalated.

Animal rescue teams coordinated with the Fire and Rescue Services. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) agreed to halt metro services and shut off the power supply to the line to allow a safe operation. A hydraulic crane was brought in along with specialist climbing equipment.

The Midnight Rescue

On the night of Saturday, February 21st, the final rescue operation began. With the metro powered down and services halted, the rescue team used the hydraulic crane to reach Subhash's precarious perch. The operation was delicate — one wrong move could have sent the frightened cat jumping to a dangerous height.

At approximately 1:30 AM on Sunday, February 22nd, rescuers finally had Subhash safely in their arms. The gathered crowd — animal lovers, autorickshaw drivers, local residents, and passersby who had simply refused to leave — erupted in cheers and applause. Videos of the moment went viral across India and beyond.

Safe and Sound

Subhash was immediately transported to an animal hospital for a medical examination. Despite spending nearly two weeks in an incredibly stressful situation exposed to the elements, the cat was found to be in remarkably good condition — a testament to the metro staff who had been feeding and watering him throughout the ordeal.

Why It Matters

In a world that can sometimes feel indifferent, Kochi's midnight cat rescue is a beautiful reminder that communities will move mountains — or at least stop trains — for one small life that needs help. The story resonated so deeply because it captures something universal: the impulse to care, even when it's difficult, even when it's inconvenient, even when it means staying up past midnight on a Saturday.

Kindness never sleeps. 🐱🌙🙌

Sources: Gulf News, The Hindu, The News Minute