A day after the fall, District Hospital ceiling fixed back

The GSIDC had told the contractor and the consultants to inspect the false celling, especially those areas where leakage was observed in the past & take suitable action to avoid such unfortunate incidents.

GSIDC General Manager Jude Carvalho told ‘The Goan’ that around 6mx6m false ceiling which collapsed on Saturday was restored on Sunday in two hours. 

He pointed out that the main cause of the collapse was due to one of the butterfly clamps, usually used to align the false ceiling gave way on Saturday. “There is a polycarbonate sheet roofing over that area, which had developed hairline crack, which became the cause of leakage. However, the same was rectified prior to monsoons. We observed that one clamp had corroded due to which it gave way. Such clamps are not visible from below as they remain above the false ceiling”, he said.

Taking cognizance of the flak received by the government over the incident, more so when the district hospital has been commissioned only last years, the GSIDC general manager said there has never been any compromise in the quality of the material used as all material is given  prior approval even before procurement. 

‘The Contractor & Consultants have been directed to carry out a detailed inspection of the false ceiling, especially those areas where leakage was observed in the past & take suitable action to avoid such unfortunate incidents”, he said.

The GSIDC official further said the contractors are mandated by agreement to look attend to any issues taking place within the three year period.

The false ceiling on the third floor had come crashing down on Saturday afternoon, with the metal sheets and other material coming down in the ward housing COVID patients. 

While the hospital management was quite on the incident, sources claimed that a worker had escaped with minor injuries in the incident.