False Ceiling Collapses Due To Seepage

NEW DELHI: Patients visiting the gynaecology OPD at AIIMS were in for a shock on Saturday. A major portion of the false ceiling of the minor operation theatre, where patients are treated for less serious problems like infertility, collapsed suddenly due to continuous seepage of water and the department was flooded with sewage. Though no one was injured in the incident, services had to be suspended for over an hour during peak time. According to hospital sources, all false ceilings are in a decrepit condition and there have been at least two recent cases of collapse — one in the cardiology department and the other in the minimally invasive surgery training centre.

"The false ceiling collapsed around 8.30am. As there was sewage water in the room we could not carry out work for over an hour," said a doctor from the gynaecology department who did not want to be quoted. He said more than 300 patients who had registered themselves for treatment were asked to wait outside till the entire area was cleaned. "The hospital staff had to be called and between 9am and 10.30am, services were suspended so that the sewage that had inundated the OPD could be removed. What is more worrying is that several other false ceilings have become weak owing to continuous seepage and they can fall anytime," the doctor added. Many patients had to return to their homes after the collapse.

According to hospital sources, a big portion of the false ceiling at the surgical skills laboratory fell down during rains but has not been repaired yet. False ceilings put up across the corridors in the academic section are in a decrepit condition. At some places, plywood material has been placed to support the structure above which wires and airconditioning lines pass. What is ironical is that flooring is redone in the departments every few months. Even on Saturday, tiles laid down a few months back were being replaced with the latest designs. "The engineering section is busy doing all cosmetic jobs rather than strengthening the basic infrastructure of the hospital. They focus on things which can help them make money. In our hostel, tiles have been changed at least twice in the past one year, though no had asked for it," said a resident doctor.

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