Uppal Skywalk Lift Malfunction Leaves Heart Patient Trapped for Nearly Two Hours
A 20-year-old man was rescued after being trapped for nearly two hours inside a malfunctioning lift at the Uppal Metro skywalk in Hyderabad, raising fresh concerns over the maintenance and emergency response systems at one of the city's busiest transit points.
The incident occurred late on Thursday night at the Uppal Junction skywalk, where a technical fault reportedly caused the elevator to stop midway during operation. The victim, identified as Rahul, a native of Mahabubnagar district, was on his way back to his hostel after finishing work when the lift became stuck.
According to the victim, Rahul is employed at a private company and resides at Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Boys Hostel in Uppal. At around 11 p.m., he entered the skywalk elevator marked "6-B" to descend from the station area. Shortly after the lift started moving, it suddenly came to a halt, leaving him stranded inside.
As repeated attempts to open the doors failed, the situation became increasingly distressing for the young man, who said he is a heart patient. He remained trapped inside the elevator for nearly two hours and later stated that he struggled to breathe and feared for his life.
Rescue operation carried out by emergency teams
After receiving information about the incident, HYDRA officials, local police personnel from Uppal, and Fire Department staff reached the location and began rescue efforts. However, the operation proved difficult because the elevator doors had reportedly locked completely.
Authorities also informed the maintenance staff responsible for the skywalk lift and officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). According to allegations raised by local residents and eyewitnesses, there was a delay in the response from the maintenance agency, and technicians did not arrive promptly.
The rescue teams eventually managed to free the trapped man with the assistance of a private technician. Rahul was brought out safely at around 1:15 a.m. after an extended rescue operation lasting close to two hours.
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Victim alleges lack of timely maintenance response
After being rescued, Rahul became emotional while describing his experience.
"I am a heart patient. I could not breathe inside the lift, and I started feeling severe chest pain. I thought I might not survive. There was no proper response from the maintenance department. If they had acted in time, I would not have gone through such an ordeal," he said.
While expressing disappointment over the alleged delay from the maintenance authorities, he acknowledged the efforts of the rescue personnel and local police who participated in the operation.
Residents seek stronger safety measures
Local residents said similar technical issues have reportedly occurred with the Uppal skywalk lifts in the past, causing inconvenience to commuters. They argued that a permanent solution has not been implemented despite repeated problems.
Residents also questioned the absence of an emergency technician at a facility used by thousands of people every day. They called for senior HMDA officials to review the maintenance system and take steps to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The episode has once again drawn attention to the importance of regular inspection and rapid emergency response mechanisms at public transport infrastructure, particularly at high-footfall locations where equipment failures can quickly become safety risks.