The deceased has been identified as Pritam Giri Goswami (77), a resident of flat D-304, who lived with his son. According to police officials, Goswami went missing on January 10, following which his family lodged a missing person complaint at the Misrod police station the same day.
Despite extensive searches by family members and relatives, no trace of him was found for days.
The matter came to light late Saturday night when residents noticed a strong foul smell emanating from the lift area of the building. The society management subsequently called a lift technician to inspect the lift shaft. During the inspection, a severely decomposed body was found at the bottom of the lift duct.
Family members later identified the body based on clothing and slippers.
Preliminary investigation suggests that Goswami fell into the lift duct from the third floor, allegedly due to an open duct gate. Shockingly, residents claim that the lift continued to operate normally for several days after the incident, repeatedly crushing the body without detection.
Residents of the society have levelled serious allegations against the builder and the maintenance agency, claiming long-standing safety lapses. According to them, lift doors frequently opened on floors without the lift cabin present, a known hazard that had been reported earlier but allegedly ignored.
“The duct gate near the deceased’s flat was often found open. This accident could have been avoided if basic safety norms were followed,” said a resident requesting anonymity.
Misrod Police Station in-charge Ratan Singh Parihar said that a case of unnatural death has been registered.
“Statements of family members are yet to be recorded. Further action will be decided based on the post-mortem report and findings of the investigation,” he said.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents and renewed concerns over lift safety in high-rise buildings. Experts reiterate that lift doors must never open unless the cabin is properly aligned, and duct access points must remain locked at all times.
Authorities are expected to examine whether criminal negligence was involved and if action will be taken against those responsible for maintenance and safety compliance.
