Possible Reason Given for Continued Elevator Issues in Hyderabad

Jugaad, a Hindi word that can be used to refer to a quick fix or workaround, seems to be a factor in repeated lift accidents in Hyderabad, India, The Times of India reports. Approximately 70 to 80% of lifts in the state are not from original manufacturers, but assembled with parts sourced from suppliers in other states and not adhering to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulations, according to industry estimates. Some suppliers do not even provide invoices to keep low prices off the books. The Telangana Elevator Association (TEA) alleges that of the 5,000 lifts supplied to the state each year, approximately 1,000 are from original manufacturers and “small firms do not even engage electrical and mechanical engineers in installing these lifts as mandated under BIS rules.” TEA President Avinash Chall stressed the importance of having a Lift Act in the state and the expected differences this could make.