A tragic incident occurred in Pune on Monday night when a seven-year-old boy died after getting trapped between the collapsible grille and wooden door of a lift in a housing society building on Sinhagad Road. The building is nearly 25 years old.
Details of the Incident
The victim, identified as Shivansh Dhoot, entered the lift alone around 10 p.m. while playing with his friends. He was heading to his flat on the second floor of the four-storey building. According to sub-inspector Santosh Bhandwalkar of the Sinhagad Road police, as the boy stepped inside, the lift started moving, and he became stuck between the wooden door and the collapsible grille. The lift eventually halted on the second floor. Residents reported that no one heard the boy calling or screaming for help.
Discovery and Rescue
Around 10:30 p.m., some residents noticed the lift was stuck on the second floor. Upon inspection, they found the boy trapped. They immediately raised an alarm and contacted the fire brigade and police. Fire brigade and police personnel managed to extricate the boy from the gap between the lift door and the collapsible grille on the second-floor slab. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Investigation Underway
On Tuesday, the Sinhagad Road police registered an accidental death report. Authorities are yet to confirm whether the mandatory annual maintenance of the lift was carried out. The incident has raised concerns about lift safety in older residential buildings.
This accident highlights the urgent need for regular maintenance and safety checks of lifts, especially in aging housing societies. Parents are advised to ensure children do not use lifts unaccompanied.
