Published Jul 15, 2024 | 12:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 1:56 PM
Man stuck in lift. (iStock)
A 59-year-old man, who was stuck inside the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) lift in Thiruvananthapuram for the past two days, was rescued on the morning of Monday, 15 July, after the lift was operated for routine work, police said.
Ulloor resident Ravindran Nair, a patient seeking treatment for back pain, arrived at the hospital on Saturday, 13 July, and decided to take the lift to the first-floor orthopaedics department.
However, the lift malfunctioned, and despite pressing the alarm button multiple times, no one came to his rescue. He also said that though he used the phone inside the lift, no one attended.
Meanwhile, his mobile phone fell and broke during the ordeal, leaving him unable to alert his family members.
The family alleges that there was no notice board indicating the lift was not in use and plans to take legal action against the hospital authorities for the negligence.
His family filed a complaint with the Medical College Police when he failed to return on time.
On Monday morning, the lift operator found Nair unconscious in the lift, which was reportedly out of service.
Nair who went into the lift at around 12 pm on Saturday, came out on Monday, 6 am.
Health Minister Veena George took cognisance of the issue and directed the Director of Medical Education to investigate the incident.
Following the minister’s directions, a team led by the Joint Director of Medical Education, Principal, and Superintendent conducted the investigation.
Based on the findings of the investigation, two lift operators and a duty sergeant have been suspended.
(Edited by Sumavarsha kandula with inputs from Dileep V Kumar and PTI)
