Vertical peril: How faulty elevators are claiming lives in India’s high-rises

Every day, millions of people in India use elevators without even realizing it. Some are using them simply for convenience, while others have no other choice than to use them when helping an elderly parent get to do their doctor or helping their children get to the restroom or going to a hospital's floor.

Most people have come to trust elevators to provide them with safe, quiet and easy movement between floors and throughout their lives, but lurking behind that trust is a hidden risk that can shatter families in a matter of seconds. For example, imagine this situation where a father is attempting to assist his child who is hurt by hitting a button to call a lift to take him to the bathroom. What he does not know is that the lift is going to fail him. Now imagine what would happen if his child is trapped inside that closed metal box with his father and no one to hear or respond when he is screaming for help.

Lift accidents are now occurring in hospitals where sick and elderly patients and their parents are awaiting treatment; in modern high-rise apartments; and in countless other facilities. Such occurrences are negatively affecting the lives of many and leaving them with nothing but sorrow, long-standing question marks and a fear of taking elevators.

Kolkata: A family trapped in a hospital liftThe tragic death of 40-year-old Arup Banerjee at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital is a heart-wrenching reminder of how quickly routine routines can turn fatal. Arup, along with his wife Sonali and their three-year-old son Ayush, got trapped for over an hour in a patient lift while trying to reach a toilet from the trauma centre’s first floor early Friday morning.

Arup was found wedged between the lift doors while trying to pry them open. While his wife and son suffered minor bruises, Arup sustained severe injuries and succumbed despite being rushed for treatment.

"According to autopsy surgeons, death was due to poly trauma, which included compression of the chest wall, rupture of the heart, lungs and liver. Besides, there were fractures in the legs, hands and ribs. All injuries were ante-mortem in nature," said joint CP (crime & traffic) Rupesh Kumar.

The victim’s family alleged the lift was malfunctioning. Pinki Banerjee, Arup’s sister, said, "We could hear my brother screaming from inside for help. We alerted the hospital security, but no help came," she said, security guards and three lift operators were arrested.

Arup’s father, Amal Banerjee, blamed negligence: "If help had arrived immediately, my son would have been alive," he said.

Hyderabad: Father and son crushed on improvised lift structureIn March, Hyderabad’s Methodist Colony witnessed a fatal accident when a father and son, both electricians, fell while fixing a malfunctioning lift. Vivek, 30, and his father Devi Das, 60, died instantly after a temporary metal slab connecting the lift landing to a third-floor balcony gave way. The house owner, Dwaraka Prasad, 65, survived but remains critical.

Police said the building, originally constructed without a lift, had a five-foot gap between the third-floor lift landing and the balcony. A temporary iron slab covered with cement bridged the gap. "For the last three months, the lift had been malfunctioning. While all three were standing on the temporary structure and discussing the issue, the metal slab suddenly broke and they fell," said assistant commissioner Murali Krishna. Rust had weakened the structure. A criminal case was registered against Prasad for causing death by negligence.

Surat: Narrow escape from a malfunctioning elevatorIn Gujarat, Valsad’s Sardar Heights saw a near-death incident when a lift suddenly moved upward at high speed while its door remained open. Vatsal Panchal, stepping out on the ground floor, barely managed to pull himself back inside and survived with a minor head injury.

Technicians identified a drive-related fault that allowed the elevator to move despite open doors. Officials inspected all 36 elevators in the housing complex, emphasizing the critical importance of routine maintenance. "A detailed inspection and repairs of all lifts will be carried out in the coming days," said a representative of the residential association.

Mumbai: Lift plunges and explosionsMumbai has experienced multiple lift-related accidents in recent months:

• Mazgaon, February: A lift in a 20-storey building plunged from the fourth floor, injuring six people, including three women. Emergency teams, including police, fire brigade, and BEST personnel, rushed to the scene. Victims were admitted to hospitals, with one receiving first aid on site. Police are investigating the technical fault that caused the fall.
• Goregaon (West), February: 21-year-old Himani Tapriya suffered burns when gas-filled balloons exploded inside an elevator at Amol Tower. The delivery boy, Raju Kumar Mahato, and the shop owner, T K Jaiswal, were booked for negligence. Tapriya, who had just arrived from Surat, said, “I had just arrived at the building from Surat and took the lift to go to my aunt’s flat when a person carrying around a dozen balloons entered the lift. Suddenly, the balloons in his hand exploded, causing serious injuries to my right arm, neck and stomach.” Police emphasized that the incident occurred due to lack of safety instructions and negligence.

Bhopal: Elderly man dound dead in lift ductIn Misrod, Bhopal, the body of 77-year-old Pritam Giri was found in a lift duct of his apartment nearly ten days after he went missing. The lift had been non-functional for some time. Police suspect he accidentally fell while trying to use it.

Pritam had left his home on January 6 and did not return. His family lodged a missing person report, but the search yielded no results. The discovery was made when lift maintenance staff noticed a foul smell and inspected the shaft.

“The lift had been non-operational for some time. It is possible he opened the door when the elevator was not aligned with his floor,” said a police officer. Authorities sent the body for post-mortem and are conducting a technical investigation. The case highlights the dangers of neglected lifts, especially for elderly residents.

Root causes: Negligence, malfunctions, and improvisation
Lift accidents rarely happen without warning. Investigations consistently reveal recurring factors:

• Mechanical failures: Faulty drives, open-door malfunctions, and plunging lifts
• Negligence: Lack of timely maintenance, untrained operators, and ignored complaints
• Improvisation: Temporary metal slabs, non-standard repairs, and unsafe DIY modifications

Experts stress that routine inspection, professional maintenance, and adherence to safety codes are essential. Retrofitted lifts in older buildings must receive extra scrutiny, while hospitals and public spaces require emergency protocols like inside-lift communication systems.

Looking ahead: Solutions and precautions
Lifts are indispensable in modern urban life. They ease mobility in high-rises, hospitals, and offices. But safety cannot be optional. Recommendations from experts include:

• Regular inspection and maintenance by certified technicians
• Professional repairs, avoiding improvised solutions
• Emergency communication systems in elevators
• Public awareness campaigns for reporting faulty lifts
• Legal accountability for negligent operators and building owners

The recent accidents in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Surat, Mumbai, and Bhopal are a stark reminder. Until real changes are made, every elevator ride is a potential danger. Families are mourning the loss of loved ones, survivors are sharing their frightening experiences, and people are demanding answers.

Elevators are meant to carry people upwards, not put them in danger. Every accident reminds us that proper maintenance, strict inspection, and public awareness are not optional; they are necessary.

As India’s cities continue to grow upwards, safety cannot be left behind. Every life lost in a lift accident is preventable, and every tragedy can be avoided.

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