77-Year-Old Falls Into Bhopal Lift Shaft; Body Found After 10 Days
A 77-year-old man fell into a Bhopal lift shaft and remained missing for ten days before a maintenance crew found his body at the shaft bottom, raising questions about safety checks.
A 77-year-old man fell into a lift shaft in Bhopal, and his family reported him missing the next day.
Over the next ten days, residents said, the lift continued to operate above the shaft, and a strong foul odour prompted officials to inspect the area. The eerie scent led people to re-check the shaft and the elevator car, raising concerns about what may have gone wrong with safety protocols.
A maintenance crew later lifted the car and recovered a decomposed body from the bottom of the shaft, ending the missing-person search but igniting a broader push for accountability and better safety measures in building lifts.
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry into the incident, examining how the accident occurred and why standard safety checks did not prevent a person from ending up inside the shaft. The case has intensified calls from residents and officials for tighter inspection regimes, clearer maintenance logs, and stricter rules for building managers to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
In the wake of the discovery, community members are urging transparency and swift action to strengthen lift safety standards across the city, emphasizing that older buildings must receive regular, rigorous maintenance to protect residents.
