Man Narrowly Escapes Serious Accident In Gujarat As Lift Shoots Up During Exit

Valsad: A man on Tuesday had a narrow escape after an elevator in Sabarmati Building in Valsad's Sardar Heights Gujarat Housing Board Society suddenly began moving upward while he was exiting. The whole traumatizing incident was captured on a CCTV camera inside the lift.

How did the incident happen?

In the CCTV recording, the man can be seen surviving by a fraction of a second after a elevator suddenly began moving upward at high speed while its door remained open as he was stepping out.

The incident occurred in Sabarmati Building in Valsad's Sardar Heights Gujarat Housing Board Society.

Who is the victim?

Vatsal Panchal, who is a resident of the Sardar Heights, was travelling down when the lift halted at the ground floor. As he started to step out and had placed one leg outside the cabin, the lift shot upward while its doors were still open.

The unexpected movement threw Panchal forward and he fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding being trapped between the lift and the shaft. 

Though he sustained minor injuries but he survived the incident, something which people describe as a “miracle”. 

What is the reason of the incident?

Later technicians were called to inspect the lift. Preliminary reports suggest a drive-related fault that allowed the lift to move while its doors were still open. The lift was subsequently taken out of service.

This has raised urgent questions about the maintenance and safety practices for elevators in older residential buildings. 

The video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with many viewers expressing alarm at how quickly the situation could have turned deadly.