Lift Mishap Exposes Safety Lapses in Apartments
Radha succumbed to her injuries, while the child was rushed to hospital and is undergoing treatment.
Hyderabad:A 57‑year‑old woman died and a 14‑month‑old baby was seriously injured after falling into a lift shaft at Bhavana Apartments in Khairatabad on Friday evening. The incident has once again drawn attention to the poor maintenance of elevators in residential complexes across Hyderabad.
Police said the victim, Radha, opened the liftgate on the fifth floor without realising the lift was stationed at the ground level. She fell into the shaft along with the infant. Radha succumbed to her injuries, while the child was rushed to hospital and is undergoing treatment.
Residents across the city said such accidents are waiting to happen because lifts in many apartments are poorly maintained and rarely inspected. Complaints about malfunctioning lifts often go unanswered for months. “Our lift frequently gets stuck between floors, and the doors do not close properly. We informed the management several times, but they only carried out temporary repairs. Nobody acts seriously until a major accident occurs,” said Vasudeva Reddy, a resident of Maitrivanam in Ameerpet.
S. Lakshmi, a resident of Himayatnagar, said lift problems are common in older buildings. “The lifts make strange noises and sometimes jerk suddenly. My father was once stuck inside for nearly three hours because the management delayed calling servicemen. Since then, he avoids using the lift,” she said.
Apartment associations blame building owners and committees for neglecting responsibilities. A member of an association in Addagutta, Secunderabad, said: “Maintenance decisions are often delayed because owners do not want to spend money. Whenever we recommend major repairs or replacement of ageing parts, they oppose the expenditure. Safety should come first, but financial considerations dominate.”
Elevator service companies also point to owners avoiding inspections. Syed Abrar, an elevator service manager, said: “We contact building owners every six months for mandatory inspections. In many cases, they postpone repeatedly or stop responding to cut costs. This increases the risk of accidents.”
Recent incidents underline the seriousness of the problem. In May, minister Adluri Laxman Kumar escaped unhurt when a hospital lift in Karimnagar fell after its ropes snapped. On May 13, a five‑year‑old girl died after getting trapped in a lift grill at a hostel in Gachibowli. Two days later, six people were injured when a lift carrying them fell from the fifth floor.
Residents say accountability is missing. “After every accident, owners blame the management, the management blames service companies, and service companies blame the owners. But we are the ones using these lifts every day. Someone has to take responsibility before more lives are lost,” Lakshmi said.
The Khairatabad tragedy has intensified calls for stricter enforcement of safety norms, mandatory inspections and penalties for negligence. With thousands of people relying on lifts daily, experts warn that unless maintenance is prioritised, Hyderabad’s ageing apartment infrastructure will continue to put lives at risk.
