Kolkata Hospital Lift Tragedy: Operator Asleep During Fatal Malfunction, 5 Arrested
In a shocking incident at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata, a lift operator was reportedly listening to music and dozing off when a fatal elevator malfunction occurred, leading to the death of 40-year-old Arup Banerjee. Police revealed that the operator, along with other staff members, was resting in a sixth-floor room on Friday when the lift broke down with Banerjee, his wife, and son trapped inside.
Fatal Sequence of Events
Upon being alerted about the stranded lift, the operator woke up and called the elevator to the sixth floor. However, the lift suddenly started moving again while Banerjee was attempting to pry open the doors. He became fatally stuck between the half-opened door and the wall, suffering catastrophic injuries.
A hospital official described the severity of the incident, noting that 21 of 24 bones in Banerjee's ribcage were fractured and his internal organs were punctured. The immense chest compression caused by the accident led directly to his death, highlighting the extreme force involved in the malfunction.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Police suspect that "inexperienced hands" may have tampered with the lift equipment when alarms were raised about the malfunction. So far, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident:
- Lift operators Milan Kumar Das (49)
- Biswanath Das (48)
- Manas Kumar Guha (55)
- Security guards Ashraful Rehman (31)
- Subhadip Das (25)
Additionally, five other persons, including a CISF member and two police officers on duty at the hospital, are currently under police scrutiny as the investigation continues.
Maintenance Records and Safety Concerns
Records indicate that Lift 2, where the fatal incident occurred, was inspected at the beginning of the month. Hospital officials stated that an audit of all elevators at the facility is conducted every 25-30 days. A representative from the company responsible for maintaining three lifts at R G Kar Medical College claimed that no significant faults were detected during the March inspection.
However, police have summoned engineers from the maintenance company for questioning at both Tala Police Station and Lalbazar headquarters. The investigation is focusing on potential equipment failures and human error that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Ongoing Investigations and Safety Measures
Multiple investigative efforts are underway simultaneously:
- The Public Works Department electrical department and the elevator installation company will jointly examine the electrical system powering the elevators on Monday, with hospital officials present.
- The R G Kar internal probe panel is expected to submit its report on the accident on the same day.
- Forensic experts from the physics department have already examined the lift, while biology department experts will inspect the accident site on Monday to analyze the injuries sustained by the victim.
Police are particularly interested in a separate machine room located outside each lift that can control operations during mechanical faults. Sources indicate that someone entered this room on the day of the incident, and with no CCTV camera inside the lift itself, external footage is being reviewed to identify this individual.
Hospital's Response and Systemic Issues
Hospital authorities are now developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for elevator operations in response to the tragedy. A hospital official revealed significant staffing challenges, stating, "We have 32 lifts at the hospital, and three persons are needed to run each of them 24×7. So, we need 96 lift operators but we don't have that manpower."
This admission highlights systemic issues in hospital infrastructure management that may have contributed to the fatal incident.
Family Mourning and Rituals
Back at Banerjee's home on Jawpur Road in Dum Dum, his grieving family conducted a pre-shradh ritual on Sunday. A relative explained, "The shradh will be a quiet, family affair on Monday. Only close relatives will be called," indicating the family's desire for privacy during their mourning period.
Between Saturday night and Sunday, police recorded statements from Banerjee's wife Sonali and multiple witnesses. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand stated, "So far, we have found that the lift malfunctioned, which caused the accident. A probe is now on to find out what led to the malfunction and the roles of different persons."
The tragic incident has raised serious questions about hospital safety protocols, elevator maintenance standards, and staffing adequacy in critical healthcare infrastructure across Kolkata.
