Bhiwandi Woman Found Dead In Lift Shaft

A 54-year-old woman, Shaheen Shaikh, was found dead beneath the lift of a seven-storey building near Dhobi Talao Stadium in Bhiwandi on Tuesday. She was the sole breadwinner for her four children after her husband's death.

The deceased is suspected to have fallen into the lift shaft while returning home after finishing domestic work, though the exact circumstances leading to her death remain unclear.

Shaheen had been missing since Monday night, and her family began searching for her at relatives and acquaintances' homes and in the surrounding areas. After their efforts yielded no clue, a missing-person complaint was lodged at the Bhoiwada Police Station.

The search ended tragically on Tuesday when Shaheen's body was discovered beneath the lift at Rabia Apartment, located in the Dhobi Talao area. The discovery sent shockwaves through the locality, with residents gathering at the spot.

Sources said Shaheen had been working in several households to support her four children following the death of her husband. Investigators suspect that she may have gone to the building for domestic work on Monday night and was on her way home after finishing her work.

It is suspected that she reached the lift area to leave the building and somehow fell into the shaft. However, how she fell and what exactly happened at the lift remains under investigation.

Police are examining the condition of the lift, its operation and the circumstances prevailing at the time of the incident. Bhoiwada police reached the spot after being alerted and sent the body to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Bhiwandi, for post-mortem examination.

Police Inspector Deepak Jadhav said an Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered and an investigation is underway. The post-mortem findings and other evidence will help determine the exact cause of death and whether any negligence was involved.

The tragedy has also raised questions over the safety arrangements at the building. According to the municipal authorities, Rabia Apartment is an unauthorised structure. Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation ward No. 4 in-charge assistant commissioner Arvind Ghughare said a notice would be issued to the building owner seeking an explanation.

Authorities will also ascertain whether the lift had any technical defect, whether it was being properly maintained and what its condition was when the incident occurred.

For Shaheen's family, the tragedy has brought a devastating double blow. After losing her husband, she was the only source of income for her children. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of residents in unauthorised buildings and the need for proper maintenance of lifts and other equipment.

The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities are working to determine the cause of the incident and whether any negligence was involved. The tragedy has highlighted the importance of ensuring safety in buildings and the need for proper regulation of unauthorised structures.