In a shocking oversight, a 59-year-old man was trapped in a lift at the Government Medical College Hospital for two days, with officials oblivious to his plight until Monday morning. Ravindran Nair, a patient from Ulloor, was stuck inside the lift of the OP Block since Saturday, only to be rescued by an operator performing routine checks.
Authorities have launched an investigation and suspended three staff members, including two lift operators and a duty sergeant, for their alleged negligence. Nair, who had visited the hospital for a medical check-up, recounted his harrowing experience, saying the lift descended and failed to open. Despite his attempts to call for help and sound the alarm, no one came to his aid, and his phone was off.
The incident came to light on Monday when a lift operator noticed the malfunction. Nair's family had already filed a missing person report with the medical college police on Sunday night. Speaking to the media, Nair described how he realized it was a holiday weekend and resigned himself to waiting for help. He lost track of time inside the lift but was eventually able to force the doors open with the help of the operator.
State Health Minister Veena George has demanded a thorough probe and a detailed report on the incident. Nair's son, Hari Shankar, expressed his father's distress over the ordeal, emphasizing that Nair had continuously sounded the alarm to no avail.