Daltonganj: At least four Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel, including havildar Munni Lal, had a miraculous escape after a huge portion of the mess roof ceiling collapsed at Daltonganj railway station under the Dhanbad division of East Central Railway around 10.30 pm on Tuesday night, sources said.The mess, used by GRP personnel for meals, had long been affected by water seepage, and the concrete roof had been weakening for some time. Sources said the lower concrete portion of the RCC (reinforced cement concrete) roof, not a false ceiling, finally gave way.Havildar Munni Lal and three others were inside the mess for dinner when the mishap occurred. The falling debris destroyed the cooked food kept there, GRP officials said.Daltonganj GRP in charge Dilip Tiwary said, “The roof was in a dilapidated condition because water had remained logged in it for a long period.” Sources said the GRP barrack and mess are old structures and have become unable to withstand the vagaries of nature, raising concern about the safety of personnel posted there.The incident has renewed concern over maintenance of police facilities at the station, where personnel continue to use ageing infrastructure.
