Mumbai: In a shocking incident on Sunday, July 20, senior BJP leader and Maharashtra legislator Pravin Darekar was trapped in a lift at Vasai’s Kaul Heritage City near Mumbai. The incident caused brief panic at the venue, where Darekar was attending a public awareness camp on the self-redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings.
He was eventually rescued safely after being stuck for nearly 20 minutes, thanks to the quick response of party workers and local security personnel. A video of the incident has gone viral on the internet showing scenes after Darekar was rescued and brought out of the lift.
Lift Was Overcrowded, Got Stuck Due To Load
Darekar was accompanied by other leaders, including Vasai MLA Sneha Dubey and Nalasopara MLA Rajan Naik, who were also trapped in the lift. According to a TV9 Bharatvarsh report, the lift was overcrowded, reportedly carrying around 15 individuals despite having a capacity of only 10. The group was on its way to the third floor when the overloaded lift malfunctioned and stalled, eventually getting stuck at the ground floor.
Following the breakdown, party workers and local residents rushed to assist. Security guards and volunteers used iron rods and tools to force the door open. After about 20 minutes of effort, the lift door was open and all those trapped, including Darekar, were safely brought out. Darekar reportedly appeared visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat. He immediately drank water upon exiting and then climbed the three floors by foot to reach the event venue.
'Lift Has Been My Old Enemy,' Says Darekar After Being Rescued
While speaking to the media after the incident, Darekar light-heartedly remarked, “The lift has always been my old enemy,” as quoted by TV9 Bharatvarsh. According to reports, this is not the first time he has been trapped in an elevator, making the comment both humorous and reflective of his past experiences.
Darekar is considered a close aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the event he was attending aimed at guiding citizens on rebuilding aging residential structures under self-redevelopment models. No injuries were reported and all trapped individuals were declared safe.
