Roof ceiling collapses at western India’s railway station ahead of inauguration

October 7, 2024

by Aditi Verma

In a concerning incident, parts of the POP (Plaster of Paris) ceiling at the newly renovated Railway Station in western India’s Gujarat collapsed due to heavy rain and strong winds, just days before the station’s grand inauguration. While no casualties were reported, the incident raises serious concerns about the quality of the beautification work.

The incident took place at Ratnagiri railway station located in the city of Ratnagiri on the Konkan Railway line on October 6. 

Visuals showed a newly constructed railway station’s POP ceiling crumbling and falling to the ground. Many people are standing below at a safe distance, while a large crowd captures the incident on their phones, documenting the alarming scene unfolding above.

Ratnagiri Railway Station’s beautification project suffered a major setback ahead of its scheduled inauguration when portions of the station’s POP ceiling collapsed on Sunday evening. The incident occurred after heavy rain and strong winds swept through the area, causing the ceiling’s decorative sections to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the mishap. However, the collapse has raised doubts about the quality of work being carried out at the station, which is undergoing renovation with funding from the state government. The beautification work is nearing its final stages and is set to be inaugurated in the coming days.

The incident caused panic among passengers, with some rushing to safety as they saw the ceiling fragments falling in the station’s main area. Videos recorded by passengers on their mobile phones show pieces of the ceiling falling like a house of cards.

With the beautification work being carried out at a rapid pace due to upcoming elections, the collapse has triggered concerns over the safety and quality of the renovations. It has become essential for the authorities to review the project and ensure proper quality checks to prevent future incidents that may compromise passenger safety.

Officials are now under pressure to conduct a thorough inspection of the station’s structural integrity, as substantial amounts of public funds have been invested in this project.

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