Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)

Mangalore, Oct 29: In a bizarre incident, a worker got locked inside a safe locker in a cooperative bank, creating anxiety in the premises for about two hours on Wednesday, October 29. The bank is scheduled to be inaugurated shortly at Shirthady.

Work has been going on for the inauguration of a branch of the cooperative bank in a commercial complex of Shirthady market. Most of the work has been completed.

The safe was kept in the strong room. The door was open and a brick was kept near its door to prevent it from closing. A worker named Ashfaq from Belvai, who is hearing and speech impaired, had gone inside the safe in the morning to clean it, while some others were working outside. Some person, who did not notice that Ashfaq was inside, removed the brick and closed the safe.

The workers then went out to drink tea. Nobody knew that Ashfaq was trapped inside. Being hearing and speech impaired, he could neither hear the door getting closed nor scream for help. When the workers came back, they heard banging from inside the safe and realized that Ashfaq was trapped. As the door was locked, it was not possible to open it.

Local doctor Anil Kumar provided oxygen through a small hole in order for Ashfaq to breathe. After getting the key from Mangalore office, they opened the door and brought the worker out from the safe.

Ashfaq had spent nearly two hours inside the locker with fear and anxiety.