Three maintenance workers sustained serious injuries on Tuesday, 26 May after an elevator cable snapped during repair work at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, airport authority officials confirmed. The accident at elevator number 34 in the airport's bus lounge has prompted an investigation into how the failure occurred.

How the Accident Unfolded

According to airport officials, the incident took place at approximately 1 pm. Elevator number 34 had been taken out of service several days prior for scheduled repairs. While maintenance was in progress inside the shaft, the cable snapped without warning, causing the lift cabin to drop abruptly onto the workers below.

The area around elevator number 34 has since been cordoned off, and maintenance work at the site continues under supervision.

Extent of Injuries

All three injured workers are currently receiving hospital treatment. Airport authorities confirmed that one worker sustained multiple fractured ribs, while two others suffered head injuries and severe trauma to their lower bodies. Officials have flagged a concern that one of the three may have sustained neurological damage, though this is yet to be formally confirmed by medical teams.

Investigation Under Way

Airport authorities have initiated a probe to determine the precise cause of the cable failure. Officials have not yet disclosed whether the elevator had been certified safe for maintenance entry or whether standard safety protocols — such as locking out the lift mechanism — were in place at the time of the accident. The findings are expected to inform whether additional safety audits will be ordered across other airport elevators.

A Pattern of Lift Accidents in Kolkata

This is not an isolated incident. On 19 March, Arup Banerjee, a 41-year-old resident of Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas district, died after a lift malfunctioned at the Trauma Care Building of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Banerjee had visited the hospital to seek treatment for his young son when he became trapped in a malfunctioning elevator in the early hours. He was later found injured inside the lift and was pronounced dead by doctors.

The preliminary post-mortem report noted that Banerjee had sustained multiple injuries across his body, including fractures to his hands, legs, and ribs, along with ruptures to his heart, lungs, and liver. Five persons, including three lift operators, were subsequently arrested in connection with that incident.

The two incidents within roughly two months raise broader questions about elevator maintenance standards and worker safety protocols at public institutions across Kolkata. As investigations proceed at the airport, authorities face renewed pressure to enforce stricter compliance frameworks.