Lucknow fire horror and Bareilly lift trap raise safety concerns across Uttar Pradesh
Bareilly, June 22: A power outage at Bareilly’s City Center LA Mall in Civil Lines on Sunday night trapped 13 people inside a lift for nearly 45 minutes, leaving them gasping in suffocating heat and humidity; a teenage girl fainted during the ordeal, sparking public outrage and protests against the mall’s management, while police launched an investigation into lapses in security and emergency response.
Those inside allege that they first pressed the alarm button and repeatedly called the helpline number displayed on the lift, but no one answered. Those inside say that if people outside had not responded in time, the situation could have worsened. Children and women suffered the most. According to eyewitnesses, the suffocation inside the elevator worsened within minutes of its closure. Young children continued to cry while women attempted to comfort them. Meanwhile, a teenage girl’s health deteriorated and she fainted. After escaping, she was revived with water and first aid.
The elevator lacked an operator, compounding the crisis. It emerged after the incident that no operator was stationed at the elevator at night. Experts say that if a trained operator had been present, the frightened passengers could have been calmed by informing them of safety rules. Attempts to force the gate open could also have been prevented. People took charge themselves. Hearing cries for help from inside the elevator, those outside began attempting to open the gate.
Eyewitnesses say that no security personnel arrived for a considerable time. Later, an attempt was made to open the gate using an iron rod. People allege that relief and rescue arrangements were lacking in the initial stages.
Mall Management’s Clarification: Mall Operations Manager Vidit Bhargava attributed the incident to a technical fault. He stated that after the power outage, the elevator reached the floor with the help of an auto-rescue device, but the sensor was affected by people inside applying pressure to the gate and trying to open it. He claimed that security personnel and the technical team began rescue operations immediately upon receiving the information. Following the incident, questions are being raised about why the emergency call system was not activated when the mall receives a large number of visitors daily. The lack of a helpline number, questions about the alarm system, and the absence of an operator at night have exposed the poor safety standards. People say that if there had been elderly people, patients, or a large number of children in the elevator, the situation could have been more serious.
CO First Ashutosh Shivam said that an investigation is being conducted into the technical reasons and security arrangements. All people were evacuated safely. Further action will be taken based on the investigation report.
