Cops trying to ascertain exact cause of death, residents say lifts at Konark Puram old and problematic

In yet another elevator mishap in the city, a 35-year-old lift maintenance worker died while repairing a lift at Konark Puram Housing Society in Kondhwa on Monday afternoon.

Balaji Ganpat Panchal was crushed between the lift and the wall around 3.30 pm, police said, adding that they were trying to ascertain the exact cause.

A resident alerted security guards at Konark Puram who informed police and the fire brigade. A fire brigade team led by Pankaj Jagtap and Bhimrao Pawar rushed to the spot. Panchal was stuck between the elevator and the wall on the first floor. The body was removed by breaking the lift door.

Sub inspector Rajaram Kshirsagar of Kondhwa police station said, “Primary investigation revealed there was some problem in the lift at B building in Konark Puram. Some residents had called Panchal to get it repaired. Something went wrong and he was crushed to death. We don’t know what exactly happened,” said Kshirsagar. “We would register an accidental death case first. Investigation would be done to find whether Panchal died due to the negligence of any individual,” he said.

Manager of Ideal Relevators, the employers of Panchal, said he was an experienced worker. “He had been with us for the last seven years. He died carrying out repairs. We don’t know how it happened.”

Vinod Dariyanani, a resident, alleged that lifts at Konark Puram were old and often caused problems. “A few months ago, there was a short circuit in a lift in another building. We have complaints several times about it.”

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