Retired IAF man crushed as lift malfunctions

Hearing screams of distress, residents rush to the spot, only to discover Motilal Nalluri stuck between the 5th and 6th floors

A 58-year-old retired Indian Air Force officer died after trying to exit a lift that got stuck between floors. The lift had been serviced on Sunday, but malfunctioned when Motilal Nalluri was going to the seventh floor.


Death trap: The lift at Jal Vayu Towers at Sadanandanagar was serviced
the same day but stopped between floors, forcing the victim to attempt
an escape. Cops say though the lift was serviced, the sensors in the door
were faulty. Pics/Ramesh HS

Nalluri, originally from Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, retired and moved to the air force colony at Jal Vayu Towers at Sadanandanagar, where he stayed at the seventh floor with his wife and younger son.

Every morning Nalluri went out alone for an hour's walk, but yesterday he failed to return home even after two hours had elapsed.

His screams alerted residents and they discovered him trapped between the doors of the elevator, which had stopped between the 5th and 6th floors. He was extracted and taken to Command Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.

Police said though the lift was serviced, the sensors in the door were faulty and therefore did not retract when he attempted to come out. The Police have begun an investigation, but have ruled out suicide as the cause.

Investigating officer, V Rohit, PSI of Byappanahalli police station said, "We will consult the mechanics who serviced the lift and investigate further."

Similar incidents
* On October 25, 2010, four-year-old Laxmi died in a similar accident at Sai Ram Soudha Apartment. Residents claimed negligence on the owner's part as the reason behind the accident.u00a0

* On July 3, 2007, six-year-old Ahan Bhandari died at Garuda Mall while exiting a stalled lift along with his parents. He was crushed when the lift moved as they were exiting.