Kottayam: Emotional scenes as Vasavan visits Bindu's family; Pinarayi vows steps to prevent mishaps

Kottayam/Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government came under intense scrutiny on Friday following the tragic death of Bindu, a 52-year-old woman who was killed after a section of a toilet complex collapsed at the Kottayam Government Medical College. The incident, which occurred while the hospital was in the process of shifting operations to a new surgical block, has sparked widespread criticism, public protests, and political blame games.

Bindu, a resident of Thalayolaparambu, was trapped under the debris for more than two hours before her body was recovered. Her untimely death has led to widespread outrage across the state, with opposition leaders accusing the state government of negligence and mishandling the rescue operation.

In an emotional scene on Friday, Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan visited Bindu’s family, accompanied by the district collector and medical college officials. Offering solace, the minister handed over ₹50,000 from the hospital’s Hospital Development Society (HDS) fund as an immediate relief measure. He assured the bereaved family that their key concerns, including medical care for Bindu’s daughter and employment support for her son, would be addressed by the government.

“The family presented four requests. Chief among them was free medical treatment for Bindu’s daughter, which the government will fully ensure. We’ve also decided to offer her son a temporary job, with discussions on a permanent post to follow,” Vasavan said. “Further financial assistance will be taken up in the upcoming cabinet meeting.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose delayed response drew sharp criticism, expressed condolences and vowed that the government would take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. “The tragedy at Kottayam Medical College is deeply unfortunate and painful. We are strengthening all precautionary mechanisms to avoid such incidents. The family will receive proper support from the state,” he said in a statement.

Opposition parties, however, remain unconvinced. Congress MLA from Kottayam, Chandy Oommen, announced a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the family from the Oommen Chandy Foundation. Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, visited the family and demanded that the state provide at least ₹25 lakh in compensation, in addition to covering the full cost of medical treatment for the injured child.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Sunny Joseph was among the harshest critics, alleging that Ministers Vasavan and Veena George attempted to “whitewash” the severity of the incident, which he claims led to delays in the rescue operation. He also questioned Chief Minister Vijayan’s role, stating, “The Chief Minister arrived at the hospital but did not even attempt a preliminary inquiry. This is a clear dereliction of duty.”

Joseph demanded a judicial inquiry into what he called “criminal negligence” and “a serious lapse in safety.” He accused the ministers of lacking both the moral and legal authority to continue in office.

The situation escalated further as BJP and Congress workers staged protests across the state, including in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, and Kollam, demanding Health Minister Veena George’s resignation. Protesters clashed with police, breached barricades, and were met with water cannons in some locations.

Minister Vasavan refuted allegations of delay in rescue efforts. Speaking to the media, he said, “Based on inputs from the hospital authorities, including the superintendent, we were initially informed that no one was inside the collapsed structure. However, I immediately instructed the fire and rescue team to bring in a JCB. The delay in its arrival was due to the need to clear a path for the machine, not any negligence on our part.”

He added that the government had been in communication with the victim’s family through official channels and had acted upon their requests, including a swift post-mortem.

Health Minister Veena George broke her silence with a Facebook post, expressing deep sorrow over Bindu’s death. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the family and outlined the broader measures being taken to enhance safety in state-run hospitals.

George stated that the Health Department, in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority, had devised a ‘Hospital Safety Plan’ aimed at identifying and mitigating risks in over 1,200 public sector health facilities across Kerala. A fire and safety audit has already been carried out in coordination with police and fire services, and funds have been earmarked for training and compliance.

Despite these reassurances, the political storm continues to rage. As opposition parties press for resignations and judicial scrutiny, the government is left battling a growing perception of administrative failure in what has become a deeply emotional and politically charged issue.

Meanwhile, Bindu’s last rites were conducted on Friday afternoon on land belonging to her sister, as there was no space at her home. Her family, shattered by the tragedy, was seen inconsolable, struggling to come to terms with a loss they believe could have been prevented.