6-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Trapped in Lift Shaft in Hyderabad

A six-year-old boy who was trapped between a lift shaft and a wall in a residential complex in the Masab Tank area succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a state-run hospital, police said on Saturday. Authorities suspect poor lift maintenance as a possible cause of the tragic accident.

The incident occurred on Friday when the child, who had accompanied his grandfather to visit a relative in the apartment complex, entered the lift on the ground floor. According to preliminary investigations, before the grill door could fully close, the lift began ascending. In a tragic turn of events, the boy, attempting to step out, slipped into the gap between the lift door and the wall, becoming trapped near the first floor.

For over two hours, rescue operations were carried out by personnel from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and the Fire Department. Rescuers had to cut through the lift frame and floor slab using gas cutters to reach the child. Once extricated, he was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Despite efforts to save him, the boy, who had suffered severe internal injuries, was declared dead at around 12:30 pm on Saturday. A doctor involved in his treatment stated that the child likely suffered from suffocation due to being trapped for an extended period. The exact cause of death will be confirmed following a post-mortem examination, officials said.

Authorities suspect that poor maintenance of the lift contributed to the accident. A health official indicated that a malfunction in the lift's internal door might have prevented it from closing properly, leading to the tragic mishap.

A case has been registered, and further investigations are underway to determine accountability. Residents of the complex have expressed concerns over the safety of the building's infrastructure, urging authorities to take stricter measures to ensure proper maintenance of elevators to prevent such accidents in the future.