Thirteen People Trapped in Bareilly Mall Lift for 35 Minutes During Power Outage

A distressing lift malfunction at a shopping center recently left thirteen individuals trapped for nearly 35 minutes, highlighting significant safety concerns in public infrastructure. The incident occurred late Sunday evening at the City Centre LA Mall, located within the Civil Lines area of Bareilly, creating a scene of panic among the trapped occupants.

Details of the Lift Entrapment Incident

The group, which included four women and three children, found themselves stranded between floors following a sudden power failure. As the minutes ticked by inside the confined space, the trapped individuals reportedly faced rising heat and humidity levels. Despite their efforts to signal for help using the emergency communication system installed within the lift, the occupants received no immediate response from mall security, according to accounts provided to local authorities.

During the prolonged ordeal, a 17-year-old girl named Shalini, a resident of Biharipur, fainted as panic spread among those inside the lift. This medical emergency prompted a more urgent response, with individuals inside attempting to forcibly open the doors. Mall staff and bystanders outside eventually joined the rescue efforts, successfully prying the lift doors open after approximately half an hour.

Official Response and Safety Concerns

Following the rescue, the girl received care and was reported to be in stable condition. SP City Bareilly, Manush Pareek, confirmed that police arrived at the scene shortly after the rescue operation concluded to record statements from those involved. The authorities are currently reviewing the incident and have invited a formal complaint to facilitate further investigation into the mall safety protocols.

Initial explanations provided by the mall management to the police suggested that the lift's sensors malfunctioned after a passenger attempted to force the door open while the building's power supply was shifting to the backup generator. However, the lack of an effective emergency response has raised questions regarding the maintenance and operational oversight of public elevator systems in the area. Circle Officer (First) Ashutosh Shivam noted that while the police team reached the site promptly, the primary rescue had already been carried out by those on the ground. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of ensuring reliable emergency assistance and regular technical maintenance for lifts in high-traffic commercial spaces to prevent such hazardous entrapments.