A notice put up by corporation officials asked residents to vacate the building at Valiyangadi in Kozhikode on Tuesday, a day after a portion of it collapsed, killing four workers. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
In view of the Valiyangadi incident, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) judicial member K. Baijunath on Tuesday ordered authorities to urgently inspect all old and potentially dangerous government, semi-government and local government buildings in the district.
Mr. Baijunath, who on Monday visited the site where the collapse of a part of a decades-old building resulted in the death of four front-load workers, said renovation and restoration work on the structures should be carried out on a war footing.
The Commission has asked the Kozhikode Corporation Secretary and the District Collector to immediately conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and submit a detailed report within a week. The directive was issued to the District Collector. The commission also ordered that the instructions be communicated to the concerned departments and authorities without delay.
The SHRC had earlier registered a suo motu case based on media reports.
The Commission suggested that the Corporation Secretary should pay special attention to ensure the safety of buildings within the limits of the civic association. Buildings requiring urgent repairs should be prioritized and their renovation should be completed within the time limit.
The order further said that it is the responsibility of the authorities to take strict measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents like the one in Valiyangadi. It asked the district collector and the corporation secretary to prepare a list of buildings requiring immediate repair and submit a copy to the commission within three weeks.
The order also warned that strict action would be recommended against officials responsible for misconduct affecting public safety. The case will be taken up during the Commission’s meeting to be held in March at the Rest House of the Public Works Department in Kozhikode.
Published – 24 Feb 2026 20:23 IST
