Kottayam Medical College Accident; No Lapses in Rescue Efforts : Veena George

Kottayam: In response to the tragic incident at Kottayam Medical College Hospital where a woman died after a portion of the building collapsed, Health Minister Veena George stated that there were no lapses in the rescue operation. The minister also said that the district collector has been directed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on the incident.

"Everything possible was done as quickly as we could. Rescue efforts began immediately after the accident. However, it was difficult to bring earth-moving machinery into the hospital premises. A special access route had to be created before the machines could reach the accident site. Initially, it was reported that two people were injured at the time of the incident. After a complaint was received that one woman was missing, a search operation was launched. The collapsed building was 68 years old. There had already been a report indicating it was not fit for use due to its age. In fact, a report from 2013 had already flagged structural weakness. It was the LDF government that came to power in 2016 which sanctioned funds for a new building," said the minister.

The accident occurred around 10:30 AM on Thursday. A portion of the toilet in the 14th ward of the old hospital building collapsed. The deceased has been identified as D Bindu (52), a resident of Thalayoalparambu Ummankunnu Meppathkunnel. She had come to the hospital for her daughter's treatment. Aleena Vincent (11) from Peruthanath, Vazhavettapakkam, Neerangadi, Wayanad, sustained injuries. Hospital staffer Amal Pradeep (21), from Karuthedam, Villoonni, Kottayam, also suffered minor injuries while caught in the crowd and chaos at the site.