Man dies after being trapped inside lift at RG Kar Hospital; 5 arrested

Kolkata: In a shocking incident, a man allegedly died after being trapped inside an elevator at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday, with his family accusing the hospital authorities of negligence. 

The relatives and friends of the deceased person were protesting within the R.G. Kar premises at the time the report was filed. 

The deceased man, identified as Arup Bandopadhyay, a resident of Dum Dum in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, had gone to the hospital for the treatment of his minor son.

According to an IANS report, it is learnt that he was trapped in the elevator of the hospital building housing the trauma care centre, and he died in the elevator. “His son is admitted to the trauma care centre of the same hospital. This morning, he was trying to reach the trauma care centre, which is housed on the fifth floor of one of the hospital buildings, and then he got trapped in the elevator,” said one of the aggrieved relatives of the deceased person. 

According to an official, the post-mortem report says death was due to polytrauma (compression of the chest wall, rupture of the heart, lungs and liver, fracture of legs, hands, ribs).

Also Read:Father of RG Kar victim alleges larger conspiracy, questions CBI investigation

The relatives and friends of the deceased person alleged that there was no elevator operator while the mishap took place. “The deceased person was trapped in the elevator, which got stuck in the midway, for over an hour, and during that period, no hospital staff or elevator operator was available to reactivate the elevator,” the aggrieved relative added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior police officer said,'' Five people, including three lift men and two security personnel, have been arrested. They will be produced in the ACJM court on Saturday. A case has also been registered under BNS section 105/3(5) (culpable homicide).''

The hospital authorities have claimed that the complaints in the matter will be addressed, and a thorough investigation into the matter will be carried out, reports IANS.

At the time the report was filed, the hospital authorities had not issued any explanation regarding the possible reasons behind the death. Already, a huge police contingent from the local Tala Police station had arrived at the hospital premises, and the police are trying to persuade the aggrieved relatives and friends of the deceased persons to withdraw from the hospital premises.

To recall, RG Kar has been in the national headlines over the ghastly rape and murder of a woman doctor of the hospital within the premises on the morning of August 2024.

Later, an investigation also started over the massive financial irregularities at the hospital, and there is a large-scale perception that the tragedy with the victim was because she became aware of those financial irregularities.

The erstwhile controversial principal of R.G. Kar, accused of being the mastermind of the financial irregularities, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and is still behind bars.

Also Read:RG Kar Corruption Case: Ex-Deputy Superintendent surrenders in CBI Court