Viral CCTV footage shows Gujarat man narrowly escaping tragedy as elevator malfunctions

Gujarat man narrowly avoids serious harm during lift technical fault. (Image: @gharkekalesh/ X)

A shocking incident caught on CCTV in Gujarat shows a man narrowly escaping a lift that suddenly malfunctioned and dropped. The video, which has gone viral, has raised serious concerns about elevator safety.

As reported by the Free Press Journal, the accident occurred on Wednesday at the Sabarmati building of Sardar Heights, a residential tower on Tithal Road in Valsad. CCTV footage shows the resident entering the lift at around 7:22:45 am and pressing the button to go up.

About 39 seconds later, the lift doors opened, and he started to step out. However, the elevator suddenly moved upward while he was getting out, almost trapping him in the gap between the lift and the floor. The lift continued moving even with the doors open and eventually stopped before the doors automatically shut, indicating a serious technical fault.

Residents of the 14-storey building reported hearing a loud crashing noise as the lift fell. Alarmed by the sound, several people rushed to the lift area and discovered that someone had been inside moments earlier, narrowly avoiding injury. Families living in the building said the incident caused panic and left them shaken.

Damn pic.twitter.com/S4qY60C2Jr

— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) March 3, 2026

Sabarmati Building Chairman Himati Roy said the lifts in the Sardar Heights complex are described as high-tech systems under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme. Roy added that technicians from Omega Elevator Maintenance Company had visited the building just two days earlier to address minor issues with the lift’s light and fan. Despite the recent maintenance, the lift reportedly operated while the doors were open, a serious failure of built-in safety sensors and interlocking systems.

The viral CCTV clip prompted widespread reactions on social media. One user wrote, “Unforgivable. Lift operator and the contractors involved should face charges for attempted murder. In India, even basic safety cannot be taken for granted. Every step feels like navigating a minefield.”

Another commented, “Never trust a lift with open doors, always wait for full stop + level match before stepping out Stay safe, everyone.” A third user said, “My literal nightmare coming to life... terrifying. We cannot afford to overlook elevator safety.”

Disclaimer: This report is based on third-party news reports and user-generated content shared on social media. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.