Lift Malfunction Traps 10 Passengers for 3 Hours at Rewa Station

Passengers, including woman doctor and toddler, stuck between floors due to technical glitch; no warning signs at platform

Ten passengers arriving on the Itwari train found themselves trapped inside a lift on platform number 2 at Rewa railway station for nearly three hours on Wednesday, triggering panic and anger among family members waiting outside.

The group, which included a woman doctor, a three-year-old girl, and several elderly passengers, entered the lift around 8:30 am unaware that maintenance work was underway. Within seconds of the doors closing, the lift came to a grinding halt between floors.

No Warning Signs

According to officials, the lift had been scheduled for routine maintenance. However, no information board or cautionary signage was placed at the entrance. Passengers and relatives said there was no indication that the lift was non-operational.

“We just walked in like any other day. Nobody told us not to use it,” said a relative of one trapped passenger who declined to be named.

Rescue Effort Takes Hours

Station officials received the first alert around 9 am. A team of railway technicians arrived shortly after, but the absence of a backup power mechanism complicated the rescue.

For nearly three hours, stranded passengers remained inside the confined space with limited ventilation. Railway staff managed to create a small gap in the lift door to pass juice packets and water bottles to keep the group hydrated and calm.

Local authorities confirmed that the woman doctor inside assisted fellow passengers, particularly the toddler and elderly members, helping manage anxiety during the wait.

Officials Arrive at Scene

Sanjeev Shukla, representative of the local MP, reached the site along with senior railway officers as news of the incident spread across the station. By late morning, a medical team dispatched by the Chief Medical Health Officer had also arrived.

Technical repairs were completed around 11:30 am, after which all 10 passengers were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Health Check-Up Conducted

The medical team examined each passenger on the platform. Officials confirmed that all were stable, though some showed signs of mild distress and fatigue.

“We have conducted preliminary checks. Everyone is safe. Those requiring follow-up have been advised accordingly,” a CMHO representative said.

 Questions Over Passenger Safety

The incident has raised concerns about basic passenger amenities and safety protocols at Rewa station, which sees regular footfall from long-distance trains like the Itwari Express. Local residents and passenger groups have questioned why a lift undergoing maintenance was left accessible without barricades or warning boards.

Railway officials have assured that an internal inquiry will examine the sequence of events and why standard safety measures were not followed.

“Responsible staff will be identified. We will ensure such lapses do not recur,” a senior railway officer told reporters at the station.