A 40-year-old man was rescued after he was trapped between an old lift and the wall of a three-storey building in Anjaneya Nagar, Moosapet, Hyderabad. The dramatic rescue work was conducted by Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Man Trapped When He Exits Lift
The man, identified as Murali, was travelling with his wife from the ground floor to the second floor. When the lift reached the second floor, Murali began stepping out.
At that moment, someone apparently pressed the lift button on the third floor. The old grill-style lift suddenly moved upward while one of Murali's legs was still inside the lift and the other was on the second-floor landing.
His leg was trapped in the lift grills, and he was hanging between the second and third floors.
The failure of lift sensors led to the unexpected movement, the report said.
Wife and Residents Raised the Alarm
Murali's wife, who was still inside the lift, screamed for help after seeing what had happened. Residents of the building rushed to the spot and tried to free him.
But their efforts were unsuccessful; Murali was trapped between the lift and the wall. Residents then contacted the HYDRAA control room.
The emergency call was received at around 9:15 AM, reported reports. A HYDRAA Disaster Response Force team from nearby Kukatpally came to the building at 9:30 AM.
Hydraulic Cutter Used in Rescue
The rescue team led by Marshal JDV Prasad had a difficult job to carry out as Murali was stuck in a narrow space between the lift and the building wall.
Officials said part of the lift wall had to be broken to create enough space to pull him out. Sanathnagar Fire Station personnel also joined the operation and used a hydraulic cutter.
After nearly one-and-a-half hours of rescue efforts, the team successfully freed Murali at exactly 10:50 AM. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for medical reasons.
Murali Suffers Leg Fracture
Murali suffered a fracture after his leg was crushed between the lift and the wall. Despite the serious nature of the accident, HYDRAA DRF and fire personnel helped bring him out safely.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of older lifts, particularly those using grill-style doors and potentially faulty safety sensors.
