Investigation Uncovers Alcohol Use Among Lift Operators in Kolkata Hospital Incident

Details of the Incident

Kolkata, March 27: Recent investigations into the tragic elevator accident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have revealed that the three lift operators on duty during the incident on March 20 were heavily intoxicated, rendering them incapable of performing their responsibilities.

According to sources within the Kolkata Police, the incident could have occurred in any elevator, as the operators were not fit to manage their duties.

Currently, all three operators are in police custody. They confessed during questioning that they had not received any training prior to their employment at the hospital, which began just a month before the accident.

The combination of their lack of training and their intoxicated state severely hindered any attempts to rescue Arup Bandopadhyay, the victim of the incident.

A police insider noted that when the accident occurred, the operators failed to even consider the basic action of breaking the elevator lock from the outside to attempt a rescue.

During interrogation, the arrested operators claimed that being under the influence while on night duty is a common practice among many non-medical support staff.

CCTV footage has confirmed that none of the operators were present near the elevators close to the trauma care unit after midnight, highlighting significant mismanagement within the hospital, particularly during late-night hours.

The Public Works Department (PWD) had outsourced the lift maintenance at RG Kar Hospital to one agency, while another agency was responsible for providing lift operators.

The contract with the previous agency for supplying lift operators ended in February, and a new agency took over the contract in mid-February, leading to the recruitment of a new team of operators.