Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jun 6: In a distressing incident that unfolded at the Udupi taluk panchayat (TP) on Thursday June 6, at 10:30 am, four individuals including senior citizens were trapped in an elevator for half an hour due to a power outage. The lack of a generator and emergency exit systems left them in a state of helplessness, sparking widespread criticism of the local administration.

At around 10:30 am, a power failure resulted in the elevator coming to a halt, trapping four people inside. The absence of a backup power source or a functioning generator exacerbated the situation, causing significant anxiety among those trapped.

The incident highlighted the inadequate emergency preparedness of the panchayat building. With no emergency exits or alternative measures in place, the affected individuals had no way of escaping the lift, leading to a tense and frightening experience.

Vishwakumar Bhat, one of the victims trapped in the lift in a complaint filed to Udupi tahsildar described the situation and said, “Today along with two of my age went to the sub-registration office on the first floor in the lift of the Udupi taluk building complex. Two senior men aged 60 and above who were with me had reached the point of fainting from anxiety. After half an hour, when the public somehow brought us out of the lift, we came to know that not only was there no staff of the taluk office near the security key to open the lift, which stopped halfway when the power cut, but also that there was no fuel to run the generator when the power cut. Without proper maintenance of the lift, without fuel for generators and without emergency exit system, people are cursing the taluk administration. People coming to the office of deputy registrar for government work and the office of sub-registrar, which gives the highest income to the government, use the lift system from morning to evening, and when there is an accidental technical problem or power cut, it becomes a very dangerous situation for the people inside the lift. The reason for such incidents is that the maintenance of the lift is not carried out properly and the responsibility of the supervisor of the lift is not carried out properly. Shifting of the sub-registrar office to the first floor is causing great inconvenience to senior citizens.”

Citizens are demanding immediate improvements to prevent such incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for reliable power backup systems and effective emergency protocols.