RG Kar Hospital Lift Tragedy: Engineers questioned over maintenance SOPs
Kolkata: In connection with the recent death of a man reportedly caused by a lift malfunction, police on Tuesday recorded statements from engineers of the Public Works Department and representatives of a private firm who had constructed Lift 2 in the Trauma Care Building of West Bengal's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The deceased has been identified as 41-year-old Arup Banerjee, who died on Friday. He had visited the hospital on Thursday night with his four-year-old son to get treatment for the child's broken arm. Early the next morning, he became trapped between the doors of a malfunctioning elevator and was crushed when the lift began to move.
Following the incident, the police were immediately informed, leading to the arrest of three lift operators and two security guards. However, sources stated that engineers were questioned regarding the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed for the maintenance of the lift.
However, police sources had stated that the CCTV footage showed the family entering the lift from the first floor at 4:15 AM and being rescued at 5:12 AM. The footage indicates a 45-minute interval between the family entering the elevator on the first floor and his being rescued in the basement.
On Tuesday, footage surfaced showing him being wheeled out of a basement elevator; walking behind him was his wife, who could barely stand. The police stated that the timestamps on this footage are crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events.
Meanwhile, two members of the deceased's family recorded their statements before the police on Tuesday. Additionally, the family filed a petition in the Sealdah Court on Tuesday, alleging that the police have not yet seized all CCTV footage from the hospital.
In response, the court has taken cognisance of the petition and will hear the matter on March 27, when all five accused, who are currently in police remand, will be produced again, reports The Telegraph.
