Burdwan: Two junior doctors at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital were injured when a chunk of the ceiling in a classroom collapsed on them during a clinical demonstration on Thursday.

Nurman Ali Sheikh, a cardiac patient who was <>present in the classroom as part of the demonstration in the medicine department, appeared to have suffered a panic attack, which was followed by chest pain. He was immediately shifted to the cardiac department.

Junior doctor Satyaki Roy suffered an injury on his shoulder, while colleague Sanjay Sen, sitting beside him, suffered head injuries.

Both underwent a CT scan. Doctors said their injuries were not serious.

The incident occurred in the clinical demonstration room on the third floor of the New Building of the medical college.

The junior doctors and the cardiac patient and his relatives ran out of the classroom after the collapse, fearing that the entire ceiling might cave in.

"I thought there was an earthquake.... a portion of the ceiling came off and the ceiling fan was shaking, too. My brother Nurman, a cardiac patient, panicked and complained of chest pain. We ran out of the room to the lift," recounted Zakir Hossain.

Junior doctors alleged most classrooms and the lift in the New Building were in a dilapidated condition.

The junior doctors demonstrated in the hospital superintendent's office, demanding that the building be repaired immediately.

"We have repeatedly been urging the authorities to repair the building as it is in a precarious state and an accident may happen anytime. But nothing has been done yet," a junior doctor said.

The deputy superintendent of the hospital, Amitabha Saha, inspected the building and the demonstration room.

Later, superintendent Utpal Dan said the building would be repaired soon.

"We have met PWD officials and urged them to carry out repairs. Work will start soon," he said.

Sources in the hospital said the PWD had been told thrice over the last three months to starts repairs urgently.

The building houses, apart from the medicine department, the ENT and the chest departments.

A few months ago, a chunk of plaster had fallen on the ground floor of the building.

PWD officials in East Burdwan said a budget for the repairs was yet to be drawn up. "We will start the repairs as soon as possible," an official said.

Burdwan University Medical College was established in 1969 under Burdwan University. In 1976, it was taken over by the state government and rechristened Burdwan Medical College. The campus is spread across 79 acres.