Bengaluru: A day after seven persons died when a compound wall of Bowring Hospital collapsed during heavy rain on Wednesday evening, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the suspension of an executive engineer, tightened safety measures, and directed the eviction of vendors from near unsteady and dangerous structures.
High-Level Review Meeting
The action followed a high-level review meeting at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, attended by senior ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and senior civic officials. The Chief Minister's office confirmed that the engineer from the Karnataka Health Systems Development Project, responsible for the lapse, has been suspended with immediate effect.
CM's Directions to Bowring Hospital
Taking Bowring Hospital to task over alleged supervision failures, Siddaramaiah directed authorities to issue a notice to the hospital regarding soil dumping near the weakened wall. "Why was mud allowed to be piled up when it could weaken the structure?" he questioned, holding both engineering staff and hospital authorities accountable.
Rain Damage and Preparedness
Siddaramaiah noted that over 250 trees were uprooted by the 11 cm of rain that lashed Bengaluru on Wednesday. He directed civic agencies to repair potholes, clear debris, and strengthen monitoring. The Chief Minister, who visited the site on Wednesday, had ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the collapse. With the monsoon approaching, he instructed zonal commissioners to enhance preparedness, including desilting stormwater drains and managing flood-prone areas, while ensuring safety around vulnerable infrastructure.
Immediate Safety Measures
As part of immediate safety measures, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said vulnerable locations across the city are being identified and mapped, with a focus on clearing encroachments around dangerous structures. "Instructions have been given to remove street vendors from unsafe structures in the city. Weak trees and branches on all roads in Bengaluru are being pruned. Police and BBMP officials have prepared a joint list. A control room is ready to respond to any complaints of rain damage," he said.
Political Reactions
In Kalaburagi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Karnataka government to take preventive steps and address structural safety concerns. "One version called it an old compound. Another version claimed it was not constructed properly. The government should act and ensure there is no repeat of such incidents," he said.
