Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had a narrow escape today after a brief malfunction in a lift at the Novotel hotel in Hyderabad.
Reddy had arrived at the hotel to attend a Congress Legislature Party meeting, and Government Whips and MLAs welcomed him and accompanied him into the venue. While heading for the upper floors, 13 people including the CM entered a lift that was designed to hold a maximum of eight people, leading to an overload and the lift suddenly halting.
Initially there was tension among the Chief Minister and his staff as they were unsure about the nature of the problem. However, following the activation of the alarm system, hotel staff and officials responded promptly and successfully evacuated all occupants. Reddy was escorted to the second floor via an alternative elevator.
Officials and police personnel expressed relief that the CM was unharmed.