Caught on CCTV: Nashik hospital staff dies after her head gets trapped in lift

A 50-year-old contract employee sustained serious injuries after her head got stuck in a lift at a medical college in Nashik on Monday.

The incident occurred when the woman, Jyoti Shivaji Ahire, who was working in the surgery department, leaned into a freight elevator commonly used to transport surgical equipment. When it suddenly moved, her head got trapped, causing critical injuries.

CCTV footage of the incident showed another staff member noticing the mishap and alerting others, following which a group gathered to rescue her. However, they were unable to free her head immediately.

She remained trapped for several minutes before being rescued. She was rushed to the intensive care unit and is currently undergoing treatment.

Based on a complaint filed by her son, the police have registered a case of negligence against Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre.

In a clarification issued after the incident, the medical college stated that the system involved was not a conventional passenger lift but a hoist trolley used to carry drums of surgical equipment. The administration added that a government electrical engineer inspected the system and found no evidence of a technical fault or mechanical failure.

The hospital also said that Ahire had crossed a designated safety line and looked into the trolley’s path without following operational guidelines, which led to the accident.

Authorities are continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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Inputs by Praveen Thakare in Nashik