BENGALURU: In a freak incident, an 81-year-old retired engineer died after he fell into the shaft of a lift in Fortis Hospital on Nagarbhavi Road in Jnana Bharathi police station limits on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Sachchidananda Murthy, a resident of Vijayanagar. He was working in a private firm in Mysuru and was living with his family in the from the last few years.
Police said the accident took place in the evening when Murthy had taken his wife Lovely Devi (72-year-old) to the hospital for dialysis. Around 4.45 pm, he left the hospital and sat in the car with his family. As the driver had moved on, Murthy realised he had to collect the bill and some medical papers from the hospital.
He went inside the hospital and waited for a lift at the basement. After he pressed the button, the door opened automatically though the lift was on the third floor. Assuming the lift had arrived, he stepped in and fell into the shaft pit and died on the spot.
When Murthy’s wife and driver went to the hospital and informed authorities, they examined CCTV footage and saw Murthy getting into the lift. Security guards were asked to open the lift door. They found Murthy in a pool of blood.
Police have filed a case of negligence against the hospital authorities.
Have Informed Officials: Hospital
A source from Fortis Hospital confirmed the death of a person at the Nagarbhavi hospital. He said the hospital is probing the matter and has informed officials concerned.
Official Says Otherwise
Deputy chief engineer, The Electrical Inspectorate, Sashiraj said, “The hospital has not brought this to our notice. We are the ones to investigate. We will depute a team on Friday.”