Patient gets trapped in elevator, kin goes on rampage

Kolkata: Tension ran high at Uluberia ESI Hospital after relatives of a patient went on a rampage ransacking a portion of the hospital after the patient remained trapped inside the elevator following some technical glitches.

The incident triggered tension among the patients who were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The security personnel of the hospital were also beaten up by the mob when they tried to check the violence. Police have already arrested 4 persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Vinod Singh, a resident of Howrah's Chengail took his wife to the hospital with broken limbs. When Vinod was about to use the elevator of the hospital, the security personnel of the hospital urged him not to use the elevator as it was not functioning properly. But Vinod and his relatives did lot listen to what the security guards had advised and they took the patient into the elevator.

As it had developed a technical glitch the elevator got stuck midway with the patient trapped inside it. The patient and her relatives were trapped inside the elevator for more than 10 minutes. They were later rescued by the security personnel.

But the family members of the patient suddenly turned violent and attacked the security personnel. They also damaged furniture and glass fittings of the hospital. The patient's family members, however, alleged that while being trapped inside the elevator they urged the security persons to help them to come out but they did nothing. They, however, denied that the security persons were manhandled. They admitted that there was a heated argument with the security personnel of the hospital.

Some of the local people intervened and handed over the accused who led the attack to the police. A police picket was also set up as tension prevailed in the area. Police have arrested four persons for creating violence and damaging hospital properties.