Stuck elevator: Blame game on between SGPGIMS, UPRNN

Those who were trapped in a lift between two floors of new OPD building in SGPGI on Wednesday recount their harrowing experience

LUCKNOW The UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam and the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences(SGPGIMS) administration are trading charges over the incident in which a lift got stuck for two hours between the third and fourth floors of the New OPD building of the institute on Wednesday.

At least 7 people were trapped in it and the maintenance staff had to cut the upper door of the lift to supply oxygen inside it.

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LUCKNOW: Some of the people who were trapped in a lift which got stuck for two hours between the third and fourth floors of the New OPD building of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS on Wednesday had a harrowing experience to recount a day later.

To recall, 7 people were trapped in the elevator and the maintenance staff had to cut the upper door of the lift to supply oxygen inside it.

A woman Prem Kumari, who was trapped in the lift, came to the new OPD building on Thursday for her follow-up treatment.

“The lift hardly takes a few seconds to reach the fourth floor and no one inside it was prepared for a two-hour journey. Those two hours were horrible, like a punishment for me. I was feeling breathless. I felt like crying and shouted for help. Other people inside the lift were also gasping for breath, they were also panicking. I started crying when I felt that the lift was not moving an inch despite all efforts by the staff. I almost fainted when I was pulled out,” she recalled.

Rajesh, a patient’s attendant who was also stuck in the lift said, “I shouted for help as I wanted to go and meet my patient. Thank God I am alive despite spending two hours inside the lift without power. What would have happened had anyone died of suffocation? However, PGI officials provided us water bottles and oxygen through the pipe but they should ensure proper maintenance of the lift. ”

Meanwhile, the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam and the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) administration are trading charges over the incident.

The UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) officials are saying that the Nigam had handed over the maintenance of the new OPD building to the PGI almost a year back, but the PGI administration is denying the claim.

Managing director, UPRNN Rajan Mittal said, “The new OPD building was handed over to the SGPGIMS administration. I am sure that they also know this. How could they start their OPD in the building if it building was not handed over to them? The PGI administration must come out with the truth instead of passing the buck to others.”

However, chief medical superintendent, SGPGIMS, professor Amit Agarwal said that the building was not handed over to the SGPGIMS and was still maintained by the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam .

He said, “I am sure that the building is still maintained by UPRNN and they must explain why the lift got stuck between the third and fourth floors for over two hours.”

According to PGI staff, the lift is digital. When it got stuck, some people inside pressed wrong buttons which resulted in the lift getting jammed.