A plasterboard false ceiling at Singapore Management University (SMU) fell yesterday evening after water leaked through from a drainage pipe above it.

The total area that fell measured about 50 sq m.

No one was hurt in the incident, which happened in the basement of SMU's School of Information Systems around 5pm.

A 21-year-old student said she was in a study lounge nearby with a group of students when they saw water leaking from the ceiling.

"The pipe burst and then the ceiling just collapsed," she said. "When we tried to exit the study lounge, we saw that (the ceiling) was going to fall. So we stayed inside and looked out through the glass door."

An SMU spokesman told The Straits Times that water leaking from a drainage pipe above the false ceiling had seeped through and caused the ceiling in the recess area to fall. She added that SMU's ground team responded immediately, cordoning off the area and clearing the mess.

Mr Afiy Naz, a 25-year-old supervisor at a gym nearby, said he ran out after hearing a loud noise. "Parts of the ceiling had fallen, and the water pipes could be seen. There was a pungent smell of toilet water."

SMU said it is investigating the incident and has found that the structure of the surrounding area was not affected. "Measures to rectify the area will be taken as soon as investigations have been completed," said the spokesman.