Woman Robbed Inside AIIMS’ Lift, CCTV Exposes Shocking Security Lapse

First-ever chain snatching reported inside the hospital elevator, raising serious questions about safety in a high-security medical campus

A terrifying incident inside AIIMS Bhopal has shaken public confidence in hospital security after a woman employee was robbed inside an elevator during duty hours. The crime, which was captured on CCTV, has brought to light a serious lapse in safety at one of the country’s premier medical institutions.

The victim, Varsha, works as an attendant in the gynaecology department. The incident took place in a lift located behind the blood bank on the third floor. At the time, she was alone inside the elevator. A young man wearing a mask entered the lift and casually started a conversation, asking which floor housed the ophthalmology department.

As the lift reached the third floor, the man stepped out, suddenly turned back and lunged at her. He tried to snatch her gold pearl necklace and mangalsutra. Varsha resisted, but she was pushed aside. The attacker managed to flee with the mangalsutra, while the pearl necklace snapped and fell to the floor.

The CCTV footage clearly shows the sequence of events, including the speed of the attack and the ease with which the accused escaped. There was no security guard present near the lift area at that time.

AIIMS भोपाल के अंदर का हाल।

महिला डॉक्टर से चेन छीनीं। दिल्ली से भोपाल तक इन दिनों घर और अस्पताल के अंदर ऐसी लूटपाट दिखने लगी है। pic.twitter.com/doihJI3Q30

— Narendra Nath Mishra (@iamnarendranath) January 26, 2026

After the attack, Varsha reportedly sat crying near the lift, shocked and alone, until a security guard on routine rounds noticed her and informed senior officials. A written complaint has been submitted at the Baghsewania police station. However, as of now, no FIR has been registered, which has further added to public concern.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused escaped through the IPD gate, taking advantage of reduced security because it was a Sunday. The security agency has stated that identification is difficult as the attacker had concealed his face with a mask.

While minor thefts have been reported earlier on the AIIMS campus, this is the first recorded case of chain snatching targeting a woman inside an elevator. This is especially alarming because lifts are assumed to be monitored, controlled, and among the safest spaces within large institutions like hospitals.

The incident has exposed a frightening reality: even highly secure zones such as AIIMS are not immune to crime. Hospitals are meant to be spaces of healing and protection, especially for women employees working long and demanding shifts. An attack inside an elevator breaks that sense of safety completely.

Hospital authorities have ordered an internal inquiry into the matter and are reviewing security arrangements. Questions are being raised about:

• Absence of guards near critical areas
• Monitoring of CCTV footage in real time
• Entry and exit control inside hospital premises
• Safety protocols for women staff

The police have assured that efforts are underway to trace the accused using CCTV footage from multiple points inside and outside the campus. Officials have said that the culprit will be arrested soon.

This incident is not just about one crime. It reflects a deeper concern about declining security preparedness in public spaces, including hospitals. Bhopal’s streets and now even its medical institutions are witnessing the consequences of weak enforcement and security gaps.

For Varsha, the trauma goes beyond the stolen jewellery. She has said she was terrified and shaken but is now hoping for justice. Her courage in reporting the incident has drawn attention to an issue that could otherwise have been ignored.

What happened inside that lift is a warning. If such crimes can happen in AIIMS, they can happen anywhere.