Noakhali hospital building ceiling caves in: 8 children hurt

Noakhali, June 12 (UNB) – Eight people, including five children, were injured when a large chunk of concrete plaster ceiling collapsed at Noakhali 250-bed General Hospital on Wednesday morning.

The incident took place at 6:20am in Unit 2 of No 4 Children Ward, said Humayun Kabir, senior station officer of Maizdi Fire Service and Civil Defence.

A fire service team rescued the victims with the assistance of the hospital authorities.

The injured are Ibrahim, 50, Sumaiya Bani, 12, Ismail, 5, Imam Uddin, a five-month-old boy, Russel, 16, Rasheda, 35, Rafi, a two and half year old boy, and Parul Begum, 45.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Khalilur Rahman said Ismail’s condition was critical since the plaster fell on his head.

He has been shifted to Comilla Medical College Hospital.

Fariduddin Ahmed, assistant director of the Noakhali hospital, blamed the ceiling collapse on the building’s dilapidated condition. 

The building, one of the three belonging to the hospital, was constructed in 1967.

Superintendent Dr Rahman claimed that it had been identified as risky “but not declared unfit for use”.

Quamrul Islam, executive engineer of Public Works Department, disagreed. He said the building was initially identified as risky and then deemed unfit for use. 

“A letter was sent to the hospital authorities three years ago in this regard,” he said.