Roorkee: Ceiling plaster crashes inside dilapidated LIU office, staff member narrowly escapes

A large section of ceiling plaster fell inside the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) office at Dargah in Roorkee on Tuesday, narrowly missing an employee who was working there. No visitor was present when the material came down, preventing a potentially serious injury.

The office operates from rooms in a deteriorating residential building located beside Pirankaliyar Kotwali. Several rooms in the Dargah residential buildings are being used for police accommodation, office and other government activities.

The latest incident has renewed concerns about the safety of employees, police personnel and members of the public who visit the premises. People regularly come to the LIU office for different official matters, while police personnel are also living in some of the same buildings.

Plaster collapse raises safety concerns

The ceiling material reportedly fell suddenly and created panic inside the office. The employee present at the time managed to protect himself as the heavy layer broke away and dropped to the floor.

The condition of the buildings has reportedly remained poor for a long time. Despite that, government work and residential use have continued in the rooms. The incident has raised questions about how long offices and accommodation can continue operating beneath visibly weakened ceilings.

The immediate concern extends beyond the LIU employee. Visitors entering the office and personnel living in the adjoining rooms could also face danger if further sections of the structure deteriorate.

Official inspection to determine next step

Joint Magistrate Deepak Ramchandra Seth said the condition of the buildings would be examined. If the inspection finds that the structures can be repaired, repair work will be undertaken.

If the buildings are found unsafe, the government offices operating there and the residential arrangements will be moved elsewhere as a safety measure. The official decision will therefore depend on the findings of the inspection.

Dhanouri building collapse remains a recent warning

The incident comes after part of the Amrit Law College building at Dhanouri collapsed recently, killing a PAC personnel. That accident had already highlighted the need for safety checks, timely repairs and closer attention to ageing buildings.

The fresh plaster collapse at the Dargah residential building has brought those concerns back into focus. The same premises house police personnel and include the LIU office and office, increasing the number of people who could be exposed to structural hazards.

The latest incident caused no reported injury, but it has underlined the need to assess the buildings before another section falls. The proposed inspection is expected to establish whether the premises can be made safe through repairs or whether the activities must be relocated.

Conclusion

The ceiling collapse at the Dargah LIU office left an employee unharmed but exposed the risks of continuing official and residential use in deteriorating buildings. The next step is an inspection that will determine whether repairs are possible or relocation is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What happened at the LIU office in Roorkee?

A thick section of ceiling plaster fell inside the LIU office operating from a Dargah residential building on Tuesday.

Q. Was anyone injured in the incident?

The LIU employee present in the office escaped injury. No visitor was present when the plaster fell.

Q. Where is the affected office located?

The office is in a residential building beside Pirankaliyar Kotwali at Dargah.

Q. What other facilities use the buildings?

Rooms in the buildings are used for police accommodation, office and other government work.

Q. What action has the Joint Magistrate announced?

Joint Magistrate Deepak Ramchandra Seth said the buildings would be inspected before a decision is taken.

Q. What will happen if the buildings are unsafe?

The government offices and residential arrangements operating there will be shifted to another location if the buildings are found unsafe.

Q. What recent incident has increased concern about dilapidated buildings?

A section of the Amrit Law College building at Dhanouri recently collapsed, killing a PAC personnel.