THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A patient at Thiruvananthapuram's Government Medical College endured a distressing ordeal when trapped inside a lift in the orthopaedics department for two nights.
The patient, 59-year-old Raveendran Nair from Ullur, entered the lift the lift of the orthopaedics department on Saturday noon and he was found in an agonising condition only when the technician came to maintain the lift on Monday morning. He visited the hospital to treat his back ache. When he entered a lift under maintenance, it was stuck midway.
During the incident, Nair's phone fell and was damaged, preventing him from contacting his relatives despite his attempts. Concerned for his whereabouts, his family had filed a missing person report with the police on Sunday.
Hospital authorities confirmed that the lift was undergoing maintenance during the period Nair was trapped, but it remains unclear whether warning signs were in place to prevent its use. There was no attempt on the part of the authorities to check if anybody used the lift.
Three employees of Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram were suspended pending an inquiry after an outpatient was stuck in a lift in the OP block for two nights.
Two lift operators and a duty sergeant were suspended on the orders of Health Minster Veena George.
The Minister had asked the Director of Medical Education to inquire into the incident and submit a report.
A panel, comprising the Joint Director Of Medical Education and the Principal and Superintendent of Medical College, was constituted to conduct the inquiry.