Kolkata’s medical community is reeling from a preventable death at RG Kar Hospital, where Arup Bandyopadhyay suffocated after being pinned in a lift for over 60 minutes. Five people, including potential maintenance crew, are now in police custody as investigations intensify.
The sequence of events unfolded on Friday when Amal Bandyopadhyay visited his underage son in the trauma unit. His son Arup entered a lift that abruptly halted between floors. Despite frantic calls, no operator responded, delaying rescue efforts critically.
Police acted on the father’s complaint, filing charges for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The autopsy confirmed severe trauma: broken bones across torso and limbs, plus internal organ damage consistent with prolonged crushing.
Family members described chaos inside the lift—sudden upward-downward jerks, panic, and a desperate bid to pry open the folding gate. Arup’s attempt to exit led to him being wedged fatally as the lift lurched again.
MS Shaptarshi Chattopadhyay addressed the media, acknowledging operator absence as a ‘shortcoming’ but claiming the lift was operational. The complaint reached Tala station promptly, he said.
Experts highlight chronic understaffing and poor maintenance in government facilities as root causes. With public outrage growing, police vow thorough probes, including lift inspection records and staff rosters. This case underscores urgent need for safety audits in healthcare infrastructure.