CHENNAI: Four hours of struggle - with minimum equipment - to save two mechanics stuck atop a flood light ended with thundering applause after the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Department personnel saved them using sheer logic.

This was how the Thursday evening unfolded at M A Chidambaram cricket stadium.

Maintenance of floodlights was part of Natarajan and Rajamohan's job, and climbing the floodlights pillar was part of their routine. As a cricket match was due in December, the duo, who work for a private company, got into the construction lift on Thursday to repair one of the stadium lights. While they were descending the pillar, they got stuck some feet away from the lights. With their cellphone, one of them alerted the stadium staff, who in turn alerted the fire service personnel. Within 15 minutes, the rescue vehicle of the fire and rescue department, with a 142-foot-long ladder, was brought in.

After enquiring about the incident, the fire-fighters started studying the position of the lift. The rescue vehicle was placed horizontal to the floodlights and the rescue ladder was slowly pushed upwards.

But hope was dashed when the rescue ladder's length fell short of the lift in which the workers were trapped. The ladder was brought down and additional ladders were fixed to the vehicle. After this failed attempt, the crowd gathered at the stadium was rife with speculation on the possible outcome.

Again another attempt to save the duo came a cropper as the ladder had to be brought down due to faulty positioning. A third attempt also met with the same outcome. Finally additional ladders were brought in, and this time, however, the ladder was given to the duo who tied it to the lift. Then they mustered courage to climb down into the rescue vehicle, much to the joy and applause from the people who were watching below.

Every successful rescue attempt gives them satisfaction and this one could be more special given the shortcomings the personnel had to face. "Our rescue vehicles are limited, but despite that we managed. A similar incident had happened 10 years ago in Nehru stadium and once on a television tower," said a personnel.