MARGAO
Citizens were left stranded inside the elevators at the South Goa District Collectorate following a power outage on Tuesday morning.
The citizens had to fend for themselves for quite some time, before power was restored, throwing questions over the availability of backup power system in a public utility building such as the district Collectorate.
The fire brigade was summoned at the building after a couple of citizens were trapped inside. Fire personnel said the elevators started working by the time the fire brigade reached the complex.
Questions have been raised over the failure of a power backup system at the district Collectorate which plays host to hundreds, if not thousands of visitors every day.
“Just imagine a situation when citizens with cardiac issues were trapped inside the elevators. Such a situation could have turned costly for them,” remarked a citizen.
Another citizen pointed out that mega public utility buildings such as the South Goa Collectorate should have an alternative power backup system to take care of emergencies.
Eyewitnesses pointed out that confusion rent the air when the power supply failed in the building, given anxious moments for those trapped inside as well as outside.
In the past too, similar incidents were reported at the South Goa District Collectorate with the elevators stuck midway in times of power failure, leaving the citizens stranded.
