It is learnt that in two separate incidents on Saturday, portions of false ceilings collapsed at Goa Medical College casualty entrance and at the Valpoi Community Health Center’s registration area. Fortunately no injuries were reported at both the places since no one was present at the spot at the time of the incident.
However, the events highlight potential structural issues in government buildings. In the past too there have been multiple instances of false ceiling collapses in government buildings, causing concern and prompting safety assessments and regular maintenance.
Incidentally it is not only in the older buildings in which false ceilings have come crashing down. In April 2024 a part of the newly renovated false ceiling of the Kala Academy came crashing down. In September 2020 the false ceiling at the imposing South Goa District Collectorate building at Margao also collapsed.
These ceilings besides having aesthetic value do not serve much purpose. Hence the question that arises is whether government hospitals and offices are really in need of false ceilings. Periodic maintenance of false ceilings in government offices and hospitals could be just false promises.
