The body of an elderly man, who had gone missing on January 6, was recovered from a lift shaft at a housing society in Bhopal, police said. The deceased was identified as Pritam Giri (77), a resident of Chinar
Dream City residential complex in the Misrod area.
The body was discovered after residents complained of a foul smell near the lift. A maintenance team later raised the lift car and found a decomposed body at the bottom of the shaft. Family members identified Giri based on his clothes and footwear.
According to police, Giri had left his home on January 6, telling his family he was travelling to Mandideep. When he failed to return, his son, Manoj Giri, lodged a missing complaint the same night, followed by a formal FIR the next day at Misrod police station.
Victim Suffered Fatal Chest Injuries, Preliminary Findings Indicate
Speaking to news agency ANI, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajnish Kashyap said a case of unnatural death has been registered and the post-mortem examination is awaited. Preliminary findings indicate that Giri suffered fatal chest injuries after falling into the lift shaft. Police were investigating whether the fall was accidental and examining possible lapses in safety and maintenance.
Authorities said notices will be issued to the lift operator and the housing society’s maintenance agency to determine when the lift became non-functional and whether proper repairs were carried out. Legal action may follow if negligence is established.
The victim’s family has raised serious concerns over safety failures at the complex. Manoj Giri claimed the lift had not been working properly on the day his father went missing and was stuck below floor level. He also alleged that police response was delayed and that CCTV cameras in the building had been non-functional for years.
“On January 6 afternoon, my father left the house, stating he was going to Mandideep. I came downstairs thinking to drop him off at the destination, but he was nowhere to be found. I thought he might have left via bus. The building’s lift was operational in the morning, but when I went there, it was not operational and was stuck 2 feet below the ground floor. Again, I assumed that since the lift is not working, my father could not be here,” Manoj Giri told ANI.
“Three days later, when I sent my younger brother to enquire about the issue, the police recorded his statement at the police station only. The following day, they called me with a picture of my father. I came to know about the incident on January 16, when a foul smell emanated from the body. I called the maintenance team of the society to raise the lift and when it was lifted, the body was found under it. There is negligence of the maintenance team as well in this, as they did not improve the lift for 10 days,” he added.
Residents have reportedly complained multiple times about faulty lift operations, including doors opening without the cabin present. The incident has intensified demands for stricter lift safety checks and accountability from builders and maintenance agencies.
