Kolkata: Three elevator maintenance staff repairing a malfunctioning elevator at Kolkata airport were severely injurd on Tuesday afternoon when the lift’s cables snapped and crashed while they were working in the lift shaft pit.The accident took place at Lift no. 34 near boarding gate 25A, which connects the upper level of the security hold area (SHA) with the lower level in the departure section. Flyers booked on flights parked in remote bays take the elevator to reach the bus boarding gates at the lower level. Airport officials said the elevator was out of service after it developing technical problems on Monday. Flyers had to either use the stairs next to the elevator or take lifts in another section of the SHA. Three workers employed by Omega Elevators were carrying out maintenance inside the lift shaft when the cables reportedly snapped, causing the lift to descend abruptly. “It was an accident in which three workers have sustained injuries. We have ordered a thorough investigation into why the cables snapped, leading to the accident. Thankfully, the lift was not accessible to passengers,” an airport official said.Doctors said the injured workers suffered severe injuries. Sheikh Mahidul Rahman (51)s, sustained blunt chest trauma and pelvic injuries and was found to be hypotensive with multiple rib fractures. Prabhat Shankar Mehta (51), suffered a serious head injury and left ankle trauma and was diagnosed with multiple skull fractures before being admitted for neurosurgery, and Amit Das (27), sustained head injuries along with multiple fractures in both lower limbs.
