Kozhikode Building Collapse: Mayor Defends Corporation Amid Intensifying Protests
In Kozhikode, protests have escalated following a tragic building collapse that claimed four lives, with Mayor O Sadasivan defending the municipal corporation's actions. The incident occurred on Monday morning when the concrete slab of a five-decade-old building owned by the Kozhikode Corporation collapsed at Valiyangadi, killing four persons and injuring one.
Mayor's Defense and Corporation's Response
Addressing a news conference convened after the tragedy, Mayor Sadasivan stated that the corporation had decided in 2022 to rebuild 16 old buildings, including the one that collapsed. He explained that existing tenants were not asked to vacate due to social implications, as hundreds of traders operated from these premises.
Sadasivan has ordered a detailed structural stability assessment of all corporation-owned buildings and sought a comprehensive report. A thorough enquiry will be conducted with government support, covering the incident and past decisions. The mayor announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Structural Concerns and Eviction Measures
Responding to questions about the engineering wing flagging the building as structurally weak in 2024, Sadasivan said officials had not submitted a report declaring it unfit. Therefore, while no new leases were granted, existing tenants were allowed to continue operations.
Meanwhile, the corporation has initiated steps to evict shops from the building where the sunshade slab collapsed. A technical inspection found the structure in a dilapidated condition. The corporation secretary directed shop owners to remove belongings and vacate, with a notice pasted on the building.
Protests and Wider Impact
Protests continued on Tuesday, with the BJP marching to the corporation office and the IUML staging demonstrations. Shops in Valiyangadi were closed, and nearly 1,000 workers stayed away from work, many attending the funerals of the deceased.
Over 100 trucks, including those with loads from various states, were left waiting in Valiyangadi without unloading goods, disrupting local trade.
Human Rights Commission Intervention
State Human Rights Commission member K Byjunath, who visited the accident site, directed that all old and structurally unsafe buildings owned by government, semi-government, and local self-government institutions must be inspected and renovated urgently to prevent such mishaps. He ordered the corporation secretary and collector to submit a report on the incident within a week.
