Ceiling collapse at AIIMS

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the country’s premier government-run hospital, appears to be in a bad shape, reports Vidya Krishnan.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the country’s premier government-run hospital, appears to be in a bad shape.

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Last week, a chunk of the ceiling in an operation theatre for cancer patients collapsed. Doctors said it was plain luck that no one died.

The false ceiling of the operation theatre in the department of surgical oncology at Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, collapsed on Monday evening few hours after the day’s last operation.

Heavy surgical lights fitted to the ceiling also came crashing down, said doctors. “It was sheer luck that it did not come down when a surgery was in progress. The patient would have surely died,” said a resident doctor who did not want to be named.

Medical Superintendent Dr Siddharth Satpathy said the collapse was probably caused by the installation of new lighting units. “The false ceiling could not withstand the weight,” said Dr Satpathy.

Lighting units in operating theatres are, as a rule, fitted to the false ceiling above the operating table. These lights can be lifted or lowered during a surgery as per the doctors’ requirements.