Lift breakdown strands 11 at Kallang MRT station for 25 minutes

SMRT staff at the scene at Kallang MRT station on March 14, 2016. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

SINGAPORE - Eleven commuters were trapped in a lift at Kallang MRT station for 25 minutes on Sunday (March 13).

The lift had jammed while descending from platform level towards the station concourse.

Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT's vice-president for corporate information and communications, said that station staff were alerted to the incident at around 2.50pm.

"The lift maintenance crew were immediately activated. SMRT station staff kept in touch with passengers in the lift through the lift intercom to reassure them that rescue efforts were underway," he said.

According to a report by Shin Min Daily News on Monday (March 14), the lift started moving slowly upwards after the jam, but stopped again about 30cm short of the platform. Staff at the station were unable to get the doors to open.

Said Mr Nathan: "As it was a glass lift, station staff kept a close watch on the lift passengers while the recovery team made its way to the station."

The passengers were safely assisted out of the lift at about 3.15pm, he added.

One of the trapped passengers, who was quoted by Shin Min as Mr Wang, said: "Everyone was drenched in perspiration by then. One elderly lady found it difficult to breathe and was given a bottle of water to help her rehydrate."

SMRT apologises for the inconvenience caused.

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