A major scare unfolded at Malakanagiri District Hospital when 27 people, including patients and their attendants, were trapped inside Lift No. 3 due to overloading.
The incident occurred around 6 PM when the lift, designed to carry only 10–12 people, was forced to operate with more than double its capacity while moving from the first to the second floor.
The excessive load caused the lift’s metal plate to break and its cables to bend, resulting in the lift getting stuck mid-level. Panic gripped those inside as they screamed for help. Responding immediately, hospital superintendent Dr. Braja Bandhu Dash, hospital manager Sushant Biswal, technician Bishwajit Prusty, and an electrician rushed to the scene and successfully unlocked the lift, rescuing all 27 individuals without injury.
Dr. Dash confirmed that no one was harmed and emphasized the importance of adhering to lift capacity limits. He also stated that the faulty lift has been reported to the maintenance company and will be repaired promptly. Additionally, he advised that only critical patients and their attendants should use the lift, and no more than 10 people should enter at a time.
