Ceiling plaster fell inside a first-floor washroom at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication’s girls’ hostel in Delhi, prompting students to question the safety and maintenance of the institution’s buildings. The incident reportedly took place at around 4.30 pm on Monday, during the Diwali break when students had left for home and no one was inside the washroom.
The incident was reported after a video showing the damaged washroom circulated on social media. According to the student who shared the video, the absence of students at the time prevented what could have been a more serious accident.
The affected washroom is located on the first floor of the hostel, according to the report. Images and video associated with the incident show plaster that has fallen from the ceiling. The report did not provide details on the extent of structural damage beyond the collapsed plaster or confirm whether the washroom was subsequently closed for inspection.
Students have raised questions about the condition of the hostel and the upkeep of buildings on the institute campus. They said a similar incident had occurred earlier and that repair work had been carried out in the washroom. The recurrence of falling plaster has led students to question the quality and durability of the earlier repairs.
The students also expressed dissatisfaction that no representative of the institution had visited the site after the incident, according to the report. They have demanded a safety inspection of the building and permanent repairs to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
The incident highlights the immediate safety concerns associated with failing plaster in occupied institutional buildings, particularly in spaces used by students. While no injuries were reported because the washroom was empty, the account has renewed concerns among residents about whether visible or recurring maintenance problems are being assessed and resolved adequately.
The report did not include a response from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication on the cause of the plaster collapse, the earlier repair work, the condition of the building or the steps being taken after the video emerged. It also did not establish whether an engineering inspection had been ordered or whether the hostel authorities had restricted access to the affected washroom.
Students’ stated demands are for a building-safety examination and lasting repairs. Any institutional assessment would need to establish the extent of the damage and whether other portions of the hostel require attention. Further information from the institute on its inspection and repair measures remains awaited.
