Surat — In a late-night incident that could have turned disastrous, the lift at Sungrace Hospital in Surat malfunctioned, leaving 10 people trapped between the first and second floors. Prompt action by the fire brigade ensured that all individuals were safely rescued.
The incident occurred in Time World Commercial Building on Althan Canal Road, which houses Sungrace Hospital. The Surat Municipal Corporation’s fire control room received an emergency call at 3:30 a.m., stating that the elevator, dedicated to the hospital located on the third floor, was stuck.
Upon receiving the call, a team from the nearest Vesu Fire Station was dispatched immediately, arriving on the scene to find the elevator stuck between the first and second floors with 10 people inside.
Half-Hour Attempt to Open Elevator Unsuccessful
Technicians from the elevator company were also informed by the hospital administration and arrived quickly to try to resolve the situation. Despite approximately 30 minutes of effort, they were unable to restore the lift's functionality.
Breaking Down Walls for Safety
Given the seriousness of the situation and the unsuccessful attempts to open the elevator, Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh confirmed that the fire brigade had no choice but to take drastic action. "Our team broke the concrete wall between the first and second floors to safely extract the people trapped inside the lift," said Parikh. The entire rescue operation took nearly two hours to complete.
As the individuals emerged from their harrowing ordeal, sighs of relief filled the air. Thanks to the decisive and skillful actions of the fire brigade, a major accident was fortunately averted.
The incident serves as a serious reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks for elevators, particularly in buildings like hospitals where quick vertical transport is often crucial.
