Nine people were injured when an elevator at a 12-storey Barakhamba Road office building broke down and took a free fall from the second floor. Poor maintenance is reportedly responsible for the accident at New Delhi House near the Metro station, causing panic among passersby. The 14 people were trapped inside the lift for around five minutes until doors were pried open.
According to a senior police officer, around 2.15 pm, the 14 persons were going to the eight and tenth floor of the building that houses 1,207 offices. “lift number five suddenly stopped and fell to the ground floor,” he added.
The lights went off and the panic-stricken group started screaming. “We were sitting at the entrance gate when we heard a loud thud. We immediately rushed inside,” said securityman Rakesh Sharma.
A call to the police control room (PCR) was made at 2.25 pm and police arrived along with a CATS ambulance and fire tenders.
According to a statement by president of the Association of Apartment Owners of New Delhi House HM Prabhaker, “The builder, M/s MGM International Pvt ltd, has sabotaged lifts inside New Delhi House and his persons first jammed the lifts on the second floor and then closed the doors of the lifts all of a sudden, due to which the lifts came down straight to the ground floor, creating panic among occupants.”
No case was registered as there has been no official complaint.