The protest march of the congress for youth to the Faculty of Medicine in Kottayam on Friday demands the resignation of the Minister of Health Veena George about the death of a woman in the collapse of the building in the hospital on Thursday. | PHOTO CREDIT: VISHNU PRATHAP
The day after the collapse of the building in Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital, which claimed one life, the district collector launched on Friday investigating circumstances surrounding the incident.
As part of the investigation, the collector visited the place of collapse to make a preliminary assessment. The affected area was a bathroom complex connected to the main and oldest hospital building. The official is scheduled to submit a report to the government within a week.
Official sources, in the meantime, said the Inspectorate clearly revealed that hospital authorities allowed patients and visitors to 10. Department temporarily use these toilets to avoid inconveniences of traveling long distances for their basic needs.
Maintenance work
“As it is a postoperative department, it is difficult for patients and companions to go through a considerable distance to access toarm. We have made basic maintenance work to ensure that these devices are available for their use. Patients and passers -by were not forced to use these bathrooms.”
Regardless of the statement of Minister of Health, Veen George that the Public Work Department (PWD) announced in 2013 as dangerous, some hospital staff claimed that the same PWD subsequently considered the safe building for use. The collector also learned to seek clarification of these contradictory information.
“No delay”
Meanwhile, the collector claimed too much that there was no delay in performing rescue operations after the collapse of the building. “Once the information was received that someone was trapped in the debris, an excavator was sent on the spot.
The government ordered the district collector to investigate and present a report after an extensive protest against the incident. The head of the Faculty of Medicine Hospital TK Jayakumar, the main Varghese P. P. Punnoos, the authorities of the hospital, the income and PWD officials were in the team that controlled the site.
Published – 4 July 2025 9:09
