Pune:
For the Darne family in Pune, the idea of eating at a popular fast food chain proved costly as they were stuck in a lift for 45 minutes without any help.
The incident happened at a popular mall at Bund Garden road around 10 pm on Sunday.
Sachin Darne had come to a restaurant in the mall with his wife Gauri and their three-and-half year-old son Atharva.
Around 10 pm, they finished their dinner and took the lift to go to the parking area.
"As soon as the indicator showed the P1 level, the indicator panel of the lift switched off. We waited for a long time but the door didn't open. I tried to ring the alarm in the lift but it wasn't functioning. We realised we were stuck and started banging the door of the lift asking for help but no one heard us for a long time," said Sachin.
Sachin also called the toll free number, which was printed on the door of the lift.
"I got through to the company but they said the number was a Delhi number and they didn't know any person in Pune who could help us. But they said they would call me back."
Meanwhile, his son Atharva, who had been crying all this time, started feeling breathless.
Tired of waiting for help from the mall management, Gauri decided to call the police control room.
"I dialled 100 and told them of our situation. Within 15 minutes, the lift door was opened and the police and fire brigade were standing outside," said Gauri.
Fire Officer Vijay Bhilare said that they received a call around 10.40 pm stating that a few people were stuck inside the lift at the mall.
"The police was already present when we reached the spot. We called a technician and got the door opened. However, what was most shocking was the fact that there are four lifts in the mall but the management did not have even one liftman to ensure the smooth functioning of the elevators," said Bhilare.
The Darne family has filed a case of neglect against the mall management. "Had we not called the police, we would have suffocated inside. How callous can they be? No one heard us or came to our help. What if something had happened to my son?" asked a visibly upset Gauri.
The incident happened at a popular mall at Bund Garden road around 10 pm on Sunday.
Sachin Darne had come to a restaurant in the mall with his wife Gauri and their three-and-half year-old son Atharva.
Around 10 pm, they finished their dinner and took the lift to go to the parking area.
"As soon as the indicator showed the P1 level, the indicator panel of the lift switched off. We waited for a long time but the door didn't open. I tried to ring the alarm in the lift but it wasn't functioning. We realised we were stuck and started banging the door of the lift asking for help but no one heard us for a long time," said Sachin.
Sachin also called the toll free number, which was printed on the door of the lift.
"I got through to the company but they said the number was a Delhi number and they didn't know any person in Pune who could help us. But they said they would call me back."
Meanwhile, his son Atharva, who had been crying all this time, started feeling breathless.
Tired of waiting for help from the mall management, Gauri decided to call the police control room.
"I dialled 100 and told them of our situation. Within 15 minutes, the lift door was opened and the police and fire brigade were standing outside," said Gauri.
Fire Officer Vijay Bhilare said that they received a call around 10.40 pm stating that a few people were stuck inside the lift at the mall.
"The police was already present when we reached the spot. We called a technician and got the door opened. However, what was most shocking was the fact that there are four lifts in the mall but the management did not have even one liftman to ensure the smooth functioning of the elevators," said Bhilare.
The Darne family has filed a case of neglect against the mall management. "Had we not called the police, we would have suffocated inside. How callous can they be? No one heard us or came to our help. What if something had happened to my son?" asked a visibly upset Gauri.
