Two lifts malfunction at RG Kar hospital days after fatal accident kills man

Fresh incidents of lift malfunction at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have sparked renewed panic among patients and their families, coming just days after a tragic death inside a lift at the facility. Two separate breakdowns within a span of hours have raised serious concerns over safety and maintenance at one of the state’s busiest hospitals.

According to hospital sources, the latest incident occurred on Wednesday morning around 7:52 AM in the casualty block, where a lift descending from the third floor suddenly stopped between the second and third floors. A patient from the Chest Medicine department along with six family members were trapped inside, leading to panic. Despite efforts to bring the lift down to the first floor, its doors initially failed to open, prolonging the distress.

In another incident earlier that night around 1:30 AM, a lift in the academic building malfunctioned while descending from the principal’s office, trapping a lift operator inside. Both situations required intervention from CISF personnel and technical staff, who eventually managed to rescue those trapped after considerable effort.

Although no injuries were reported in these incidents, the timing has intensified anxiety among visitors and staff, especially after the recent death of Arup Bandyopadhyay, who died after being caught in a lift at the trauma centre last week. The back-to-back failures have amplified fears about the reliability of infrastructure within the hospital.

Patients and their relatives have alleged negligence in regular maintenance, blaming it for repeated technical failures. The hospital administration has assured that the incidents will be investigated and necessary corrective measures taken, but concerns over safety and accountability continue to persist within the premises.