One Dead, Two Injured in Kottayam Medical College Hospital Collapse

The dead was identified as Bindu, 56, a native of Thalayolaparambu, Kottayam. The woman remained trapped under the debris for two hours before rescue personnel pulled her out. She succumbed to her injuries later.

It is alleged that the search operation got delayed because Health Minister Veena George and Excise Minister V N Vasavan who came to the spot soon after the incident, said the building was abandoned and not in use hence no one was possibly trapped under the debris.

It was only after Bindu's daughter informed people around that her mother was missing and her phone was also switched off, that authorities swung into action and began the search operations. By then, more than an hour had passed.

Bindu, a textile shop worker, was accompanying her daughter who was under treatment at the hospital.

Contradicting Health Minister Veena George's version that the building was abandoned, patients and bystanders said it was being used as a restroom by many people. The medical college authorities had neither restricted the entry of people in the area nor put any caution boards, they alleged.

The 68-year-old three-storey building came down crashing with a loud noise. Three people, including a woman who sustained injuries, were admitted to the hospital.

The health minister said the District Collector has been asked to conduct a detailed probe and submit a report at the earliest.

The minister said the rescue workers could not reach the site immediately because of the narrow pathway. It is difficult to bring the earthmovers to the site to remove the debris.

Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan blamed ministers Veena George and V Vasavan for the death of the woman. "The ministers declared publicly that the building was not in use and no one was trapped under the debris,” he said and demanded the resignation of the ministers, holding them responsible for the tragic death.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was in Kottayam in connection with the review meeting of the development projects of districts, visited the medical college in the evening.

The incident took place when the Chief Minister was presiding over a zonal level meeting to review the development projects of Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts.

Ministers Veena George and V N Vasavan rushed to the accident spot from the meeting.