A popular restaurant in Spice Nagar, Muthaiahpuram (Thoothukudi) had its trade licence cancelled and FSSAI licence suspended after a three-year-old boy accidentally fell into its open wastewater tank on Monday.

Thanks to the quick reflexes of his mother, tragedy was narrowly averted. The child was rescued in time and admitted to a private hospital, officials confirmed.

The incident occurred when E Kannan (35), from Tenkasi, along with his wife and son, visited the restaurant. While Kannan’s wife stepped into the restroom, the child remained unattended. Moments later, she found him submerged in a six-foot-deep wastewater tank. With the help of bystanders, she managed to pull the child out and rushed him to a nearby hospital.

Following the alarming incident, civic authorities from the Thoothukudi Corporation launched an immediate inspection. The restaurant was sealed for gross negligence. “We have revoked their trade licence due to the safety lapse,” said a sanitary officer.

Further investigations by Food Safety Officer Dr. Mariappan revealed severe shortcomings in public safety measures. As a result, the establishment’s FSSAI licence was suspended. “They failed to meet basic safety norms. A case will be filed, and the licence will only be reinstated after full compliance with food safety regulations,” he added.

The incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols in eateries and prompted calls for stricter enforcement of public health standards.