Man dies after falling five floors down an elevator shaft

A 39-year-old plumber lost his life after allegedly falling five floor down an elevator shaft in a residential building in the Aarey Colony on Sunday afternoon. The Aarey police have initiated inquiries to find out if there was any negligence involved. According to the aarey police, the incident occurred in the Royal Palms building on Sunday afternoon. The deceased, identified as Sunil Baisane (39), had gone to the building to do some repair work.

“The building was recently completed and hardly 20 to 25 people are currently staying there. A lot of equipment, including lights in several spots, is yet to be installed in the building. As a result, it was very dark near the elevator on the fifth floor. Baisane tried summoning the elevator but when the button did not work, he opened the twin doors of the elevator using a key that he took from the watchman, as he wanted to take some heavy equipment down to the ground floor,” said Senior Police Inspector Vilas Chavan, Aarey police station.

Chavan said that the elevator, which was out of order, was on a higher floor. “Due to the darkness, Baisane, without knowing that there was no lift beyond the doors, stepped forward and fell five floors down the shaft,” he said. The sound of a loud thud alerted Baisane’s colleague, who raised an alarm. Baisane was rushed to the Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, where he was declared dead before admission.

“We have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and are conducting further inquiries. We have not found anything to indicate negligence on part of the residents or building security personnel so far,” said Chavan.
Baisane used to stay in the Aarey Milk Colony and is survived by his wife and two minor sons, the police said.