GDMC Hospital infrastructure maintenance under scrutiny after matron stuck in lift
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A recent technical glitch in the lift at Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital has raised concerns about the maintenance of the hospital’s infrastructure after a matron got trapped inside for some time.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning when a technical fault left a matron trapped in the lift for about 15 minutes. The incident occurred around 9:30 AM. Matron Deepshikha was moving from the In-Patient Department (IPD) to the Out-Patient Department (OPD) building via the foot overbridge when the lift, heading toward the OPD, stopped midway.
Initially, she assumed it was a power outage. When the lift did not resume after a while, she contacted the lift operator. The operator arrived promptly and manually opened the doors to bring her out. This is not an isolated case. Similar technical issues with the hospital lifts have occurred before, raising further questions about the overall condition and maintenance of the hospital’s infrastructure.
The medical superintendent at GDMC Hospital, Dr RS Bisht commented that lift malfunctions typically occur during the monsoon season. He noted that this does not necessarily indicate a need for repair, but during the monsoon, water can accumulate in the lift’s base, causing it to stop working to prevent further short-circuiting. In the recent incident, the hospital administration immediately reviewed the problem, which resulted in a similar outcome.
Bisht said that there are many lifts in the hospital and that the administration regularly oversees their maintenance. He also urged visitors that if they find themselves stuck in a lift, they should remain calm and press the alarm button installed inside the lift, after which the lift operator will assist them. Additionally, emergency contacts are also available inside the lifts for visitors to reach out to for help.
