Roof of Civil Surgeon’s office gives way during work hours

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 20

A portion of building of the Civil Surgeon’s office in Patiala, which had already been a precarious structure, collapsed during office hours on Tuesday. 

Luckily no one was hurt in the incident which has raised eyebrows over activities of the Public Works Department in Patiala. Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra, when contacted, said he tried contacting the officials at the Public Works Department (PWD) a number of times, but they did not respond.

A portion of the building of the Civil Surgeon’s office housing the drugs, accounts and medicine branches collapsed during early morning office hours on Tuesday morning. Two officials with their desks in the room escaped unhurt as they were not present in the room. All officials of the department were then forced to sit outside, the whole day, due to which the work at the department was stalled.

The department had wrote several times in the past to the Public Works Department regarding the dilapidated condition of the building, but to no avail. They said the building is over 50 years old. Assistant Civil Surgeon Shelly Jaitley said, “We have written to the PWD a number of times, but they have not responded to our letters.”

The employees also raised concern that the whole building is unsafe. “If one girder is damaged, it can lead the whole building to collapse. The PWD should take stock of the situation and take appropriate steps,” one said.

Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra said he tried to contact PWD Executive engineer (XEN), Naveen Mittal a number of times. “I tried contacting him throughout the day but they have not responded to my calls and did not even revert. This is highly insensitive.” He said he has written to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) regarding the matter.

Other precarious structures

The building of the district consumer forum is also in a dilapidated state. The Tribune had highlighted the matter of dripping walls, trees grown out of walls and falling bricks and paint in August 2018 but the PWD Department failed to take any action regarding it. Senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, (Patiala zone) are reportedly operating from unsafe buildings for the past many years.

The old buildings are vulnerable to getting collapsed and with every passing year, the problem is becoming more acute. A few portions of buildings constructed by the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala in the Baradari Gardens, which presently serve as the office of many senior police officers, and is visited by hundreds of complainants and applicants from across the region is reportedly in a dilapidated condition. The buildings include the office of the Zonal IG, DSP office and over dozen of their staffers and record room officials.

Other buildings also at risk

The department had wrote several times in the past to the Public Works Department regarding the dilapidated condition of the building, but to no avail. They said the building is over 50 years old.