The water complex accident created an uproar at the Thrissur Corporation board meeting

Ruling and opposition councilors clashed during a protest at the Thrissur Corporation council meeting on Saturday demanding action against those responsible for an accident in which a temporary sheet metal at the city’s Aquatics complex collapsed during the state school games, injuring students. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB

The incident of the roof collapsing at the Aquatics Complex during the state school games turned into a confrontation at the Thrissur Corporation council meeting on Saturday, with government and opposition councilors exchanging accusations before the confrontation turned physical.

Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councilors rushed to the well of the House after expressing displeasure over Mayor Niji Justin and Deputy Mayor A. Prasad’s response to a discussion on the incident.

The mayor and deputy mayor said the corporation had no role in organizing the games, adding that any misconduct by the civic body, if set up, would be acknowledged and dealt with.

Failed to pacify

The response failed to pacify the opposition. LDF and BJP councilors with placards entered a very demanding action against those responsible for the accident. Congress councilors decided to counter the protest, leading to heated exchanges, pushing and brawling between the two parties.

The BJP later alleged that Congress member K. Sumesh assaulted opposition councillors, including women members, without provocation when they were protesting democratically. BJP councilors Krishnamohan, Vinshi Arunkumar and Reshma Menon were subsequently admitted to hospital with injuries, according to the BJP.

The council chamber descended into chaos as members of both parties raised slogans and traded accusations.

Leader of Opposition TR Hiran raised the issue during the general discussion and accused Sports Minister OJ Janeesh of taking an irresponsible approach to the incident. He also argued that the mayor and the corporation could not completely distance themselves from the incident which took place in the jurisdiction of the civic body.

BJP Parliamentary Party President Raghunath C. Menon and Opposition Councilors Aneesh, ML Rossy and Ms Menon also criticized the handling of the incident.

The situation escalated further when Mr. Sumesh mentioned the collapse of a massive truss in the corporation building during the previous tenure of the LDF-led council. LDF councilors protested strongly against the reference.

The remark of the chairman of the standing committee on education, Mefi Delson, that the fault lies with the Sports Council and its convener, provoked a sharp response from the opposition as well.

Only the night before

Dr Justin said that she, the deputy mayor and the ward councilor had only been invited to the inaugural event the night before and that the organizing committee had not even formally involved them.

She said that despite this, she and the MLA reached the spot immediately after the accident and took necessary steps.

Amid the ongoing protest, the mayor called for the agenda to be read. However, the opposition councilors continued the protest and demanded action against the culprits of the accident. Since the situation shows no signs of easing, the mayor interrupted the meeting of the council and left the presidency.

Published – 03 Oct 2026 20:22 IST