New Delhi – A tragic lift crash in northwest Delhi’s Samaypur Badli has claimed the lives of two workers, prompting police to launch an investigation into maintenance failures and safety violations at a ceramic crockery manufacturing factory. The incident, which occurred Wednesday afternoon, has resulted in the arrest of the factory owner and raised serious questions about workplace safety standards and equipment maintenance protocols.
Details of the Fatal Lift Crash
The lift crash occurred at a five-storey ceramic crockery manufacturing factory in Samaypur Badli when Hariom Singh, 32, and Sanjay Mishra, 54, were transporting goods from the ground floor to higher floors. According to deputy commissioner of police (north) Hareshwar Swami, the cable of the lift suddenly snapped, causing the elevator to hurtle down and crash with devastating impact.
Police are investigating multiple factors that may have contributed to the lift crash, including poor maintenance practices and the possibility of excessive weight inside the elevator. The investigation aims to determine whether safety protocols were followed and if regular maintenance checks were conducted as required by law.
The impact of the lift crash was so severe that both workers were thrown out of the elevator upon impact. Fellow workers immediately rushed them to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The tragedy has left two families without their primary breadwinners and has shocked the local industrial community.
Factory Owner Arrested for Negligence
Following the lift crash investigation, police arrested the factory owner, Neha Verma, on charges of causing death by negligence. She has been booked under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) of the applicable legal code.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Swami confirmed Friday that the factory has been sealed as part of the ongoing investigation. “Prima facie, it appears that poor maintenance of the elevator led to the mishap,” the DCP stated, indicating that preliminary findings point to maintenance failures as the primary cause of the lift crash.
Authorities have also announced plans to involve the government’s labour department in the investigation. Police will request that a labour inspector examine the site to ascertain the exact cause of the lift crash and submit a comprehensive report for further investigation and potential additional charges.
Allegations of Repeated Warnings Ignored
Family members of the deceased workers have made serious allegations regarding the circumstances leading to the lift crash. They claim that the factory owner was repeatedly warned about mechanical faults in the elevator but failed to take corrective action.
Ram Anek Mishra, 58, the brother of deceased worker Sanjay Mishra, stated: “My brother and other workers had told the owner multiple times that there was a fault in the lift that was creating some weird sound. But the owner did not pay attention to their requests to get the elevator repaired. My brother died due to the owner’s negligence.”
These allegations suggest that the lift crash could have been prevented had proper attention been paid to worker safety concerns and equipment maintenance issues.
Worker Testimony Reveals Prior Issues
Lal Bahadur, a worker who was operating the power press machine on the ground floor during the lift crash, provided crucial testimony that formed the basis of the First Information Report (FIR). He described hearing a loud sound around 3pm when the elevator crashed.
“The impact of the crash was such that Hari Om and Sanjay Mishra were thrown out of the elevator. They were unconscious. We rushed them to the hospital, where the doctors declared them dead,” Bahadur recounted.
More critically, Bahadur’s statement revealed a troubling history of maintenance issues. “The lift was repaired about five months ago as it made a similar sound. However, the noise continued after the repair and we had informed the owner about it. The mishap happened because the elevator was not repaired on time,” he stated.
This testimony indicates that the lift crash was not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of ongoing safety concerns that were not adequately addressed.
Impact on Victims’ Families
The lift crash has had devastating consequences for the victims’ families. Hariom Singh is survived by his wife and two children. According to his nephew, Singh was the sole earning member of his family, leaving them in a precarious financial situation following this tragedy.
The factory, which employed nearly 35 workers according to people working in nearby facilities, has now been sealed. When investigators visited the five-storey facility Friday, both the front and rear iron gates were found locked as the investigation continues.
Workplace Safety Concerns Highlighted
The Samaypur Badli lift crash has brought workplace safety issues into sharp focus, particularly regarding elevator maintenance in industrial facilities. The incident raises questions about regulatory oversight, enforcement of safety standards, and employer accountability for worker welfare.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are examining whether regular safety inspections were conducted, maintenance logs were properly maintained, and workers’ safety complaints were documented and addressed. The lift crash serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of proactive equipment maintenance and responsive management when workers raise safety concerns.
The labour department’s forthcoming inspection report will be crucial in determining whether additional safety violations occurred beyond the maintenance failures already identified in connection with this fatal lift crash.
