A woman was killed and two others injured on Thursday when part of a building at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, Kerala, collapsed.
The victim, Bindu, 56, from Thalyolapprambu, had been at the hospital caring for her daughter Navami. The incident occurred around 11 am when the washroom area of the 14th ward suddenly gave way. Fire and rescue teams quickly arrived and pulled out two people with minor injuries.
Health Minister Veena George and Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan, who were already in Kottayam for a review meeting, visited the scene. They told the media that the collapsed section was unused and insisted no one was trapped under the rubble, describing it as a disused waste disposal area.
However, around 1 pm, rescue teams restarted their search after Navami raised repeated alarms about her missing mother. Bindu was eventually discovered buried in the debris more than two hours after the collapse. She was rescued but succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The ministers’ remarks triggered strong protests from the Opposition Congress and BJP, who accused them of downplaying the disaster and delaying rescue operations. Congress MLA Chandy Oommen called the statements “irresponsible” and blamed them for the delay.
Later, Minister George defended the response, saying the building was 68 years old and that rescue teams acted as quickly as possible despite logistical challenges.