Thirteen people, including three children and four women, were trapped inside a lift at City Centre LA Mall in Bareilly for about 35 minutes after a power failure caused the lift to malfunction on Sunday evening. A 17-year-old girl among the trapped passengers fainted due to panic, officials confirmed on Monday.
Incident Details and Rescue Operation
The incident occurred around 10 pm on Sunday in the Civil Lines area of Bareilly. The lift became stuck between floors after a power outage, leaving 13 occupants stranded. According to police, the passengers initially waited for the lift doors to open, but as heat and humidity built up inside, they began raising alarms. Attempts to contact mall security through the emergency number displayed inside the lift went unanswered.
During the ordeal, 17-year-old Shalini, a resident of Biharipur, lost consciousness due to panic. This prompted some passengers to try breaking open the door. People outside the lift and mall staff joined the rescue effort. After more than half an hour, the lift gate was broken open, and all occupants were safely rescued. Shalini was taken out and her condition was stabilized, officials said.
Police Response and Investigation
SP City Bareilly Manush Pareek said police reached the spot and recorded statements from those involved. A complaint has been sought for further action. Circle Officer (First) Ashutosh Shivam stated that police were informed about the lift getting stuck and a team was dispatched, but by the time they arrived, the occupants had already been rescued.
The mall management told police that while the generator was being switched on, someone inside the lift kicked the door, causing the sensor to malfunction, according to officials.
Background and Context
The lift at City Centre LA Mall has been in operation for several years. This is not the first incident of lift malfunction at the mall, but it is the most serious, involving a large number of trapped individuals. The power outage that triggered the incident was reportedly due to a grid failure in the area.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the safety of lifts in commercial establishments. The district administration has been asked to conduct safety audits of all lifts in malls and public buildings.
The rescue operation was carried out by mall staff and bystanders. No fire department or specialized rescue team was involved. The police have assured that appropriate action will be taken based on the complaint.
