A tense one-hour ordeal ended safely for a 68-year-old man in Ahmedabad on Monday morning after the city's fire brigade executed a delicate rescue operation. The elderly resident, identified as Paresh Desai, found himself trapped inside a malfunctioning lift at a residential building in the upscale Mithakhali area.
Panic at Urvashi Flats
The incident unfolded around 8 am at Urvashi Flats, located near the busy Mithakhali Crossroads. According to officials from the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES), the situation triggered considerable panic among the building's residents. Desai had entered the lift on the ground floor, but it abruptly malfunctioned and came to a halt, stuck between the ground and first floors.
A critical complication hampered the rescue: the building lacked a proper lift exit point on the first floor. This design flaw left the elderly man completely stranded inside the cabin, with no straightforward way for help to reach him directly.
The Complex Rescue Operation
Upon receiving the distress alert, a swift-response team from the Navrangpura fire station rushed to the scene. Station Fire Officer P B Raval stated that his team received a message about an elderly person trapped and reached the site immediately.
The fire personnel first assessed the possibility of breaking through a wall to access the lift cabin. However, after a thorough structural evaluation, they determined that demolishing the wall would not be safe. The team then pivoted to a more complex plan: accessing the lift from above.
Lift maintenance staff were summoned and arrived promptly to assist. The rescuers decided to open the top portion of the lift. In a carefully coordinated move, a firefighter was lowered into the lift shaft using safety ropes.
Safe Extraction After Sustained Efforts
Once inside the shaft, the rescuer secured Paresh Desai with safety ropes inside the confined cabin. Due to a height difference, a small ladder was positioned at the top of the shaft. Using ropes and great care, the team then carefully pulled the elderly man up to safety.
The entire rescue mission lasted nearly an hour, involving sustained efforts by the fire brigade and lift technicians. Officials confirmed that Desai was brought out safely and, fortunately, did not suffer any serious injuries from the harrowing experience.
This incident in Ahmedabad highlights the vital role of emergency services and raises important questions about lift safety and maintenance protocols in residential buildings, especially concerning access for rescue operations.
