Mumbai, July 20: BJP MLC Praveen Darekar and two MLAs were stuck in an over-crowded elevator for nearly 10 minutes at an event on Sunday and had to be rescued using iron rods, organisers said. Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred at a banquet hall in Kaul Heritage City in Vasai (West), where a guidance camp on the self-redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings was held, an organiser said.

Darekar, who also heads the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank, was accompanied by Vasai MLA Sneha Dubey-Pandit and Nalasopara MLA Rajan Naik when the lift abruptly stalled. According to sources, the elevator was designed to carry a maximum of 10 people, but had 17 occupants at the time, resulting in a technical malfunction. The sudden halt left all those inside visibly anxious. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Meets Rohit Sharma, Extends Wishes Post Test Retirement.

BJP Leader Praveen Darekar Rescued 

BJP workers and security personnel on the ground quickly responded to the situation. Using iron rods, they managed to force open the lift door and rescue all the trapped occupants safely. "All those stuck inside were brought out without injury. Immediate action by the workers prevented further panic," the organiser said. Darekar and others rejoined the event.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)