A 70-year-old woman employee died after falling into a lift shaft at a popular biryani outlet on GST Road in Pallavaram on Monday morning.

The deceased, identified as M. Mumtaz, was working at the outlet housed in a three-storey building. According to police sources, Mumtaz arrived at work around 10 a.m. as usual and was waiting on the first floor to take the lift to the second floor. She was carrying a biryani bucket at the time.

Police said the lift was descending from the second floor when its doors opened on the first floor, although the lift cabin had reportedly not reached the floor level. Unaware of the gap, Mumtaz stepped into the shaft and fell, sustaining severe injuries.

Hearing her scream, another employee alerted the security personnel, following which the Pallavaram police were informed. A police team rushed to the spot and found Mumtaz with grievous injuries. She was declared dead at the scene.

Her body was sent to Tambaram Government Hospital for a post mortem. The Pallavaram police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Police are examining whether a technical malfunction, including a possible failure of the lift cable or safety mechanism, caused the accident.

Published - August 12, 2026 01:18 am IST