Title - Part of false ceiling on platform 1 caves in

PUNE: Passenger movement on platform number one of the Pune railway station was disrupted for some time on Tuesday afternoon, when a portion of the false ceiling became dislodged around 4.30 pm and was left dangling.

Railway officials later removed the dangling portion. No casualty or damage was reported.

Officials said the portion of the aluminium ceiling came unstuck near a book stall on the platform and was dangling about one to two feet below its original position. It had to be removed as there was not enough support to reattach it.

An official said the portion was dislodged as the rods that attached it to the roof had been stolen. The administration will now ask the government railway police (GRP) and railway protection force (RPF) to increase vigil at the station to avoid such incidents, he said.

Both agencies will also be asked to restrict entry of people creating nuisance at the station premises. The official added that the engineering department would check if the remaining ceiling needed to be removed.

Harsha Shah of the Railway Pravasi Group said, "Such incidents of thefts have been reported on the station premises. The administration needs to restrict illegal activities at the station and initiate regular drives on all platforms." Shah said the security at platform number one should be increased as most trains operate from this platform.