Lift that crushed painter has open shaft

The lift that fatally crushed a 50-year-old painter at an apartment in northern Bengaluru's Malleswaram on Wednesday was installed illegally, it has emerged.

Venkatesh was painting the outer wall of Rajeshwari Apartment at 4th Main in Malleswaram when the lift that doesn't have a grille crushed him. The lift was on the second floor when someone took it to reach the ground floor.

Suma, a domestic help in the apartment, said there were four flats in the building which was quite old. The lift was installed on the outer wall as recently as two months ago. No safety measures were taken on the ground and the lift was just left open, she added. "My children were once playing cricket and the ball came under the lift when it was coming down. I ran and dragged the boys to safety," she said.

Another neighbour said a similar outside lift was being installed in his apartment but it was not safe for users. "I opposed it in my building but others wanted it. The contractor hasn't built a compound wall for the lift. If someone just stands close to the outer wall, they will hardly realise there is a lift above them. It can crash anytime," he added.

The electrical inspectorate hasn't taken any steps against the contractor or the residents.