Kerala Man 'Missing' for 2 Days Found Stuck in Hospital Lift

Incident Overview

Trapped for Two Days: Ravindran Nair, 59, was found stuck inside a lift at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College’s OP Block.
Discovery: The lift operator discovered him during a routine check on Monday morning.
Missing Case Filed: Nair’s family had filed a missing person report on Sunday night.

Details of the Incident

Ulloor resident Ravindran Nair had been trapped in the lift since Saturday. He had visited the hospital with his wife, who works there, for a medical consultation. After consulting the doctor, his wife rejoined her duties while Nair attempted to leave the hospital. However, he became trapped in the lift when it malfunctioned.

Nair’s Ordeal

Nair reported that the lift got stuck between two floors. Despite pressing the alarm and calling all emergency numbers listed inside the lift, no one responded. He shouted for help, but to no avail, as his phone had also fallen and broken.

Nair’s Statement: “I tried calling all the emergency numbers listed inside the lift, but no one answered. The alarm was also sounded, but no one came. After some time, I understood that it was the second Saturday and a Sunday the next day, and then I waited for help,” Nair said.
Rescue: On Monday morning, when an operator came to check the lift, Nair pressed the alarm. Together, they forced the door open, and Nair was able to jump out.

Family’s Reaction

Nair’s son, Hari Shankar, mentioned that his father was shaken after being trapped for almost two days. The family had initially assumed Nair was working extra hours until they filed a missing complaint when he did not return home.

Official Response

The hospital officials confirmed that the incident was discovered during routine lift operation on Monday. Health Minister Veena George has directed the Director of Medical Education Department to investigate the incident thoroughly.

Conclusion

This incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The investigation will focus on why the alarms and emergency numbers failed and why there were no sign boards indicating the lift was out of service.