``It took the hotel management about half an hour for us to get out, even though we were stuck between the ground and first floor only'', his wife, while narrating the incident. She added: ``even when we kept calling, no timely help was provided''. Hotel staff explained that the delay was caused due to the opening of the lift gate. ``It could only be brought to the level after the lift door was closed'', said a hotel manager.

She also complained that there was no operator in the lift, or any indication for locating the emergency button. However, hotel staff said it took time for them to be brought out because they had opened the lift gate. Hotel officials say steps are, however, being taken to check the recurrence of such incidents, they added.