3-hour ordeal at Bengal's Adra station as child, women trapped inside lift

A child and several women passengers were trapped inside a faulty lift for nearly three hours at Adra Railway Station in West Bengal's Purulia district, triggering panic at the station before railway engineers and RPF personnel finally managed to rescue them.

The incident took place on Sunday when the lift serving Platforms 3 and 4 suddenly developed a technical fault and stopped midway. The doors reportedly failed to open, leaving the passengers trapped inside for a prolonged period.

A child and several women were inside the lift when it malfunctioned. As the lift came to a halt and the doors remained shut, panic spread among those inside.

The passengers had to remain confined in the lift for several hours while railway officials worked to arrange their rescue.

After receiving information about the incident, railway officials and personnel from the Adra RPF reached the spot and began efforts to open the lift.

Senior DCM of Adra Division, Bikash Kumar, along with other railway officials, also reached the station and monitored the rescue operation.

As the rescue effort continued, railway authorities and the RPF arranged drinking water and biscuits for the passengers trapped inside the lift.

Railway engineers and RPF personnel continued working to restore the lift and open its doors. The prolonged rescue operation kept the situation tense at the station as the passengers waited inside.

After nearly three hours, the rescue operation finally succeeded and all the passengers were brought out safely.

Some of the women passengers reportedly broke down in tears after emerging from the lift, following the ordeal.

The incident has raised questions over the maintenance of passenger lifts at railway stations and the emergency response available when such equipment develops a technical fault.

Questions are also being raised over how a passenger lift could remain stuck for such a long period and whether adequate emergency mechanisms are in place to ensure passengers can be evacuated quickly during a malfunction.

The exact reason for the lift failure has not yet been officially clarified. Railway authorities have also not disclosed details of any measures being planned to prevent similar incidents in the future.