False ceiling comes crashing down at Chennai airport

CHENNAI: In the second such incident in three months, a portion of false ceiling at the domestic departure terminal of Chennai airport caved in early today.

However, there was no injury to any one since the incident occurred around 2.30 am when movement of passengers was almost nil, airport sources said.

An inquiry is on by airport authorities to identify the cause of the incident, they added.

This is the second time that the false ceiling at the terminal has fallen down since it was formally inaugurated for passenger use in April last.

Three contract workers suffered bruises when a portion of a false ceiling caved in following heavy rains on May 13.

Besides, there had also been complaints of leaking air-conditioning ducts and pigeon droppings.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, Airport Authority of India said some 23 'Armstrong ceiling tiles' behind the check-in area of East Wing came off the ceiling last night.

"False ceiling found collapsed was provided around the air-conditioned return air-diffusers. It appears due to heavy condensation, gypsum board ceiling has absorbed lot of moisture and due to heaviness of gypsum, the ceiling has come out of screw", AAI said in a statement.

AAI immediately pressed workmen concerned along with engineers to assess the situation and removed all the broken false ceiling tiles and cleared the debris, it said.

AAI clarified that the early morning operations at the airport were normal.

Stating that the latest incident was similar to the collapse of false ceiling that occurred in May this year, the statement said, "AAI is taking all necessary action to replace these false ceiling areas with lighter non-moisture absorbing false ceiling material such as Aluminium metal false ceiling strips/calcium silicate ceiling board."

The replacement exercise would be carried out in both the new domestic and International terminals and it was expected to be completed in two months, the statement added.