Mishap on elevator: Fire Force demands explanation

Mishap on elevator: Fire Force demands explanation
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The mishap on a lift at Garuda Shopping Mall on Magrath Road, which left 15 people trapped for over an hour on Sunday, has taken a new turn. The Fire Force has demanded an explanation from the management why the lift was overloaded. The latter in turn, blamed the shoppers who barged in without paying heed to instructions.

Interestingly, while the victims say that there was a notice put up stating that the lift was under trial, the management now claims it was only a ploy to deter shoppers from crowding into the lift.

On Sunday evening, 14 shoppers and the lift operator were trapped in the ‘panoramic elevator’ capsule in the shopping mall when the carriage slipped from the second floor and got stuck midway. The victims themselves called the Fire Force and the police for help, when the management stood helpless. The victims, including an 81-year-old woman, were rescued only when firemen broke the glass and placed a ladder for them to climb out. “How could they treat human beings as guinea pigs,” asked one of the victims, Dr. Bharat Singh.

“We have asked them to explain what they mean by such a notice,” Additional Director, Fire and Emergency Services, M.N. Reddi, told this paper.

However, managing director of the mall, B.G. Udaykumar said that the lift, manufactured by Tyhshen Krupp, has been cleared for commercial operation and they have a licence. “Seeing the crowds are waiting to get into the lift most times, we reasoned that if there was a notice put up it will deter them,” he told this paper.

Udaykumar admitted that the lift attendant had failed to do his duty. He said that the mishap was partly due to the shoppers pressing a number of buttons on the panel inside. “We will ensure that highly trained staff are appointed. We are going to train the staff.” he added.