RG Kar tragedy: Man trapped in hospital lift dies; 5 arrested

The victim, Arup Bandyopadhyay, a resident of Dum Dum, had visited the hospital for the surgery of his three-year-old son, who had suffered a fractured leg.

Arup, along with his wife Sonali and son Ayush, entered an elevator in the hospital’s Trauma Care Centre to reach the fifth floor when it malfunctioned and got stuck.

While Sonali and the child sustained minor bruises, Arup got wedged between the elevator doors while attempting to force them open.

Police said, citing autopsy surgeons, that Arup died of polytrauma, including compression of the chest wall and rupture of the heart, lungs and liver. The family was reportedly trapped inside the elevator for nearly an hour.

Two on-duty security guards and three lift operators at the Trauma Care building were arrested late Friday.

The state health department has initiated a probe into why Arup could not escape the elevator while his wife and son managed to get out.

Arup’s sister Pinki alleged that the elevator kept moving up and down without stopping, and despite his cries for help, no one came to his rescue.

In a startling claim, an eyewitness told The Indian Express that staff and bystanders struggled to locate the keys required to open the elevator doors.

The victim’s body was later found trapped inside the lift, which had stalled at the basement level. His body couldn't be evacuated as the collapsible door was locked and the key to open it was not found.

A team from Tala police station rushed to the spot after the victim’s relatives staged a protest inside the hospital premises.

The victim’s father alleged negligence on the part of the security personnel. “None came to the rescue and instead I was asked to keep quiet. My son’s death could have been averted if the keys were found in time. Neither private security nor police officials took any timely action to save my son’s life,” he said.

Hospital superintendent Saptarshi Chattopadhyay expressed concern over the incident and ordered a detailed probe.

“I want a detailed report from the PWD officials and lift maintenance staff. My priority is to determine whether there was a technical defect in the lift or any lapse,” he said.

The incident comes in the backdrop of the RG Kar rape-murder case, which had triggered nationwide outrage and protests.