Why Telangana Needs Immediate Implementation of the Lift Act

Old-style elevators are often compared to symbols of socialism — they do not discriminate between people. Whether a minister, political leader, worker, child, or common citizen, anyone can become a victim if elevator systems are poorly maintained. A series of recent incidents in Telangana has once again exposed the growing dangers associated with neglected lift infrastructure.

In one shocking incident in Karimnagar, Telangana minister Adluri Laxman Kumar visited a private hospital to meet a farmer undergoing treatment. As the minister entered the elevator and the lift began moving upward, the rope reportedly snapped suddenly, causing the elevator to crash downward. Fortunately, the minister escaped with minor injuries and received immediate medical treatment at the same hospital. The incident created panic among hospital staff and visitors and raised serious questions about the maintenance standards of elevators in healthcare facilities.

In another incident at Geethu Apartments in Dollar Hills, Puppalguda, several Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders had gathered for a meeting. After the meeting concluded, some leaders boarded the elevator to descend from the upper floors. According to reports, the lift suddenly collapsed from the fourth floor during the descent. Two individuals suffered leg fractures and sustained serious injuries. Residents later expressed concerns over the condition of the apartment’s aging elevator system and alleged irregular maintenance checks.

However, the most heartbreaking incident involved the death of a five-year-old girl due to alleged negligence in elevator maintenance. At the Mahi Women’s PG Hostel in Gowlidoddi, an elderly couple from Jharkhand worked as cooks. Their granddaughter, Bistu Ghosh, became trapped between the elevator door and the grill while the lift was operating. The child suffered severe head injuries and tragically lost her life. The incident triggered widespread outrage and renewed debate over elevator safety standards in hostels, apartments, and commercial buildings.

These repeated accidents indicate a dangerous pattern emerging in rapidly urbanising cities like Hyderabad, where high-rise apartments, hospitals, hostels, and office complexes increasingly depend on elevators for daily movement. Experts warn that many older lifts continue to operate without proper servicing, modern safety sensors, emergency systems, or periodic inspections.

Avinash, President of the Telangana Elevators Association, said elevator safety should never be ignored under any circumstances. According to him, regular inspections, timely servicing, replacement of outdated components, and strict compliance with safety standards are essential to prevent fatal accidents.

He further pointed out that despite repeated lift accidents in Telangana, criticism is growing over the delay in implementing the Telangana Lift Act 2015. Avinash noted that Andhra Pradesh approved its Lift and Escalator Bill last year, while Telangana is yet to fully enforce a comprehensive regulatory framework for elevator safety.

He stressed that the government must urgently introduce strict maintenance guidelines, mandatory inspections, certification systems, and accountability measures for building owners and maintenance agencies. Without stronger regulation and enforcement, experts fear that lift accidents may continue to rise alongside the rapid expansion of high-rise urban infrastructure.

The recent incidents serve as a warning that elevator safety is no longer just a technical issue — it has become a major public safety concern affecting thousands of residents across urban India.