Trauma care unit in Government Hospital in Madurai closed after ceiling collapses
MADURAI: The trauma and emergency care unit functioning in the Thirumangalam Government Hospital has been closed after a portion of the ceiling fell down, recently, posing threat to the lives of patients. The unit was closed after PWD officials who inspected the building, which was built in 2001, declared it as unsafe. Patients have been accommodated in male ward in the hospital.
K Ramalingam, a resident of Thirumangalam, said, “The trauma and emergency care unit was constructed in 2001. But, after a period of time, the entire structure started to go weak. First, cracks developed in the ceiling. Though temporary measures such as plastering was done in a few sections, small pieces started to fall down. A few weeks ago, ceiling concrete broken and fell on the beds, but fortunately no patients were in the room.”
Lakshmikanth, another resident, said, “We feel unsafe in the trauma unit. Since the government hospital is located near National Highway and the town is located between Kappalur and Thoppur, a lot of road accident victims are brought here for treatment. We are worried that patients might injured by falling of ceiling when they are admitted.”
According to sources, 104 road accident cases were admitted in the trauma care unit in Thirumangalam Government Hospital till May this year. Of this, 54 patients were referred to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) Madurai.
Speaking to TNIE, a top official from Thirumangalam Government Hospital said, “We informed higher authorities about the ceiling crash and a team of PWD officers inspected the facility. They have declared the entire building unsafe and unfit for use. We have closed the room and patients have been moved to male ward, which has 40 beds. We have taken twenty beds for trauma cases. We have sent a Rs 3-crore proposal to build a new trauma care unit with all facilities. We are waiting for the government’s response.”