Nashik: A contractual worker at Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College in Adgaon, who was critically injured after being struck by a descending dumbwaiter lift inside the operation theatre, succumbed to her injuries on Monday evening, the police said.
The deceased, identified as Jyoti Ahire, a resident of Mane Nagar in Amrutdham, had suffered severe head and spinal injuries in the accident earlier that morning. Though she was being treated at the same hospital, she died during treatment in the ICU, said senior inspector Umesh Patil of the Adgaon police station. The death was formally recorded by police late at night.
According to the police, the incident occurred when Ahire was placing medical equipment inside a dumbwaiter lift in the operation theatre. While checking the lift's position, she reportedly put her head inside the duct, at which point the lift suddenly descended, trapping her neck and causing grievous injuries.
Following a complaint lodged by a relative, Adgaon police initially registered a case under BNS section 125(B) pertaining to acts endangering life or personal safety. With her death, the case will now be converted to sections related to causing death due to negligence under the BNS, the police said.
Details of the Incident
The accident took place in the early hours of Monday when Ahire was performing her duties in the operation theatre. She was tasked with loading medical supplies into the dumbwaiter, a small lift used to transport items between floors. As she leaned in to check the lift's alignment, the mechanism unexpectedly descended, pinning her head and neck against the frame. Colleagues rushed her to the emergency room, but her injuries proved fatal.
Police Investigation Underway
Senior Inspector Umesh Patil confirmed that a case has been registered and investigations are ongoing. The hospital administration has been asked to provide maintenance records of the lift. Authorities are also examining whether safety protocols were followed. The body has been sent for postmortem, and further legal proceedings will follow as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
This tragic incident highlights the risks faced by contractual healthcare workers, who often operate in high-pressure environments without adequate safety measures. The police are urging hospitals to conduct regular safety audits to prevent such accidents.
