Indian authorities have launched a formal investigation into a elevator malfunction at a government housing complex in Valsad, after a man was nearly crushed when the car abruptly shot upward with its doors open. Preliminary indications point to a significant electrical issue in the drive mechanism that appears to have reactivated the lift unexpectedly while the entrance remained unlatched. Officials are examining maintenance records and responsibilities tied to the system.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, as Vatsalbhai Pancha returned to the Gujarat Housing Board residential complex and began to step out of the lift. With one foot on the threshold, the car suddenly lurched upward, leaving him millimeters from being crushed. He suffered a head trauma and internal injuries, but is reported to be stable, according to the New York Post.
Security camera footage
Security camera footage from the building went viral, circulating widely on social media.
Investigators try to understand why the lift car moved at all with its doors open. Early accounts point to an electrical fault and a suspected failure within the drive system that allowed power to reengage improperly.
High-tech installation
“Lift operator and the contractors involved should face charges for attempted murder,” one social media user wrote, according to The Sun.
People familiar with the building said the lifts are part of a high-tech installation. Technicians had reportedly attended to minor issues a few days before the accident—specifically a light and a fan in the car—though the building’s president said there had been no significant complaints logged about the elevator prior to the event.
The episode comes amid heightened public sensitivity to lift safety after another high-profile mishap: Italian professional golfer Andrea Pavan was injured a week earlier when he fell into an elevator shaft at his accommodation before the South African Open. Pavan, 36, was hospitalized with serious injuries after reportedly falling two or three stories (approximately 6–9 meters). He later underwent shoulder and back surgery and was released as his recovery progressed as planned. That incident, in which doors reportedly opened while no car was present, drew attention to how interlocks and position sensors are meant to prevent passengers from accessing an open shaft.