IAS officer's wife stuck in Bhopal 5-star lift, rescued. Then came fire, food checks and more lapses

A senior IAS officer’s wife being trapped in a lift at a five-star hotel in Bhopal triggered a wider safety inspection, bringing the hotel’s fire safety arrangements, lift maintenance and food safety documents under the municipal corporation’s scrutiny.

It began when the officer's wife and other people were trapped in the lift at the hotel located in DB Mall on Sunday. After receiving information, a joint team from the municipal corporation’s fire brigade, electrical and health departments reached the spot and rescued them safely.

During the inspection that followed, civic officials found that the lift did not have an Automatic Rescue Device (ARD), a safety backup designed to operate the lift during power failures or unexpected outages. The hotel had also failed to carry out the scheduled monthly maintenance of its lifts, including the maintenance due on August 31, 2026.

The team further inspected the hotel’s fire safety equipment, emergency evacuation routes and exit gates. These arrangements were found to be below the prescribed standards, following which the municipal corporation temporarily sealed all three lifts at the hotel.

The civic body also examined the hotel’s food safety licence and other related documents.

According to the municipal corporation, the hotel had been inspected earlier and issued notices to ensure compliance with safety standards. However, deficiencies related to lift maintenance and fire safety were found again, prompting the latest action.

The incident has now prompted the municipal corporation to plan inspections of lifts installed in hotels, hospitals and multi-storey buildings across Bhopal. The inspections will focus on timely maintenance, the availability of safety equipment and the relevant documents.

Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain has directed the civic body to prepare a special inspection drive. Institutions found violating safety standards will face action, while operators of hotels, hospitals and multi-storey buildings have been directed to ensure regular lift maintenance and compliance with all prescribed safety arrangements.- EndsInputs from Dharmendra SahuPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Sep 21, 2026 23:33 IST