The concrete slab that fell between 7.30 and 8 pm damaged a couple of beds as patients were awaiting medications.
“At around 7.30 pm all the patients were asked to stand in a line to get their medication which is the usual practice. Since no one was on their bed, no one was injured,” said a source at the institute.
Around 24 patients were shifted from ward 3 to wards 2 and 4 after the incident and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and member of legislative assembly Vishnu Wagh also visited the hospital later in the day.
Playing down the collapse, the institute’s Medical Superintendent Dr Shilpa Waikar described the incident as a “small piece of the ceiling fell off”. She confirmed that while no patient was hurt they had shifted patients to other wards.
She also said the incident was reported to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) that is in charge of the infrastructure and repairs will commence as per procedure.
“No patients were hurt and all were shifted to other wards in the institute. The repair work will be undertaken theby the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation that has been notified of the issue and will take further action,” said Waikar.
Sources at the institute said that over 5 years ago, a similar incident had occurred with pieces of the ceiling falling. “It was a good thing that no one was hurt this time. At least now the building that is really old will get some attention,” said a staff member.
There has also been speculation that male patients from the Bambolim institute would be shifted to Asilo hospital in Mapusa, though there has been no confirmation.
