A person died by trapped in lift of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital
Tragedy Strikes R G Kar Hospital Kolkata as Elevator Accident Claims a Life
Kolkata is once again grappling with profound questions surrounding public safety and hospital accountability following a devastating elevator accident at the prestigious R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. A routine family visit to a patient tragically ended in the death of Arup Banerjee, a resident of Dum Dum, leaving his loved ones in shock and sparking widespread outrage among other patient families. This somber incident casts a shadow over the city’s healthcare infrastructure and demands immediate attention to critical safety protocols.
The ill-fated incident unfolded when Arup Banerjee, accompanied by his wife and younger son, was on his way to visit his elder son, who was receiving treatment at the hospital’s fifth-floor Trauma Care Centre. What should have been a brief, ordinary trip between floors quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal. Accounts from the scene suggest the lift experienced a sudden, violent jerk. Instead of ascending, it reportedly descended erratically and then became completely stuck. The family, trapped inside, endured anxious moments until rescuers managed to pry open the doors.
By the time Arup Banerjee was extricated, he had lost consciousness. Despite immediate medical attention from the hospital’s own doctors, he was later pronounced dead. Fortunately, his wife and younger child emerged physically unharmed from the harrowing experience, though undoubtedly deeply traumatized. The sudden loss has left a void in their lives and amplified calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to this avoidable tragedy.
Central to the unfolding mystery is the crucial question of the elevator operator’s whereabouts at the time of the malfunction. Eyewitnesses and other patient families have vocally expressed their frustration, claiming that elevator operators are routinely absent, leaving visitors and patients to navigate the lifts unsupervised and often at their own peril. This long-standing grievance highlights a critical lapse in hospital management and raises serious concerns about the safety environment within a major public health institution. The lack of clarity on how the accident precisely occurred further fuels public anxiety, demanding a swift and comprehensive probe by authorities.
Following the incident, a significant contingent of police personnel from Tala Police Station, along with central forces, swiftly arrived at R. G. Kar Hospital to manage the escalating situation and maintain order. The presence of law enforcement underscored the gravity of the event, which quickly garnered local attention. While the situation was brought under control, it has been reported that Arup Banerjee’s family has not yet filed a formal complaint, a factor that might change as they navigate their grief and seek answers.
This latest misfortune at R. G. Kar Hospital is not an isolated incident that has brought it under public scrutiny. The institution had previously faced immense public outcry and media attention in 2024 following the tragic death of a young female doctor within its premises. That incident, which sent shockwaves across the state, prompted widespread discussions about working conditions and safety for medical professionals. The recurrence of such high-profile negative events within a relatively short period raises serious questions about the overall governance, maintenance standards, and patient safety protocols in place at what is considered one of Kolkata’s primary government hospitals.
As Omni 360 News continues to follow this developing story, the call for immediate action from hospital authorities and the state government grows louder. Ensuring the safety of patients and their visitors must be paramount. This incident serves as a grim reminder that infrastructure maintenance, diligent staffing, and robust safety mechanisms are non-negotiable, especially in environments as critical as a hospital. The public expects not just an investigation, but tangible changes to prevent such heartbreaking occurrences in the future.
Key Takeaways
* Arup Banerjee died in an elevator accident at R. G. Kar Hospital while visiting his son.
* The elevator reportedly malfunctioned, jerking violently and getting stuck before his death.
* The absence of an elevator operator at the time of the incident is a major point of contention and public concern.
* Other patient families have alleged a persistent lack of elevator operators, forcing people to use lifts at their own risk.
* This tragedy marks another high-profile incident for R. G. Kar Hospital, following a previous controversy in 2024 involving the death of a young doctor.
