A Thane resident lost his right hand after it got stuck in the grills of a lift at a maternity home in Kopri on Monday night.
Sandesh Gupta, 29, a resident of Lokmanya Nagar in Thane (W), admitted his wife Rashmi, 22, to the civic-run Lakhichand Fatichand maternity home for delivery at 8.30pm on Monday. After she was admitted, Gupta was alone on the first floor of the three-storey building, where the lift was. According to officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), he slid his right hand in between the lift’s grills, which were both shut, and accidentally pressed the ground-floor button.
As the lift began to descend, a bracelet around Gupta’s wrist got stuck. He could not pull his hand out in time and his wrist was crushed between the lift’s ceiling and the outer grill. Employees of the maternity home rushed to his aid and eventually managed to free his arm, but could not save his hand, which was all but severed by then.
An employee of the maternity home, who did not wish to named, said, “After a lot of effort we saved him by removing his arm from the grill. We immediately admitted him to a private hospital.”
A TMC official, who also did not wish to be named, said, “According to our inquiry, the victim put his hand inside the lift from outside and pressed the down button. He failed to remove it in time and was injured. It was his negligence that led to the incident. His condition is now stable.”
The TMC has promised to pay for Gupta’s treatment. Sandeep Malvi, public relations officer, said, “It was an accident. However, we have asked a lift inspector to check the lift and give us report on whether it was being maintained well. Based on this report we will decide the further course of action. We will also pay all his medical expenses.”
Gupta works at a shop owned by his uncle, which sells sweets, snacks and household goods. His mother in law Vimala Gupta said, “There was no-one else near the lift. I was with my daughter and ran out on hearing my son-in-law’s cries. However, I am not sure what exactly happened. He is fine now.”
Meanwhile, Rashmi gave birth to a boy at 7.40am on Tuesday.