Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5 (PTI) – In the wake of several incidents last month involving the collapse of a toilet complex at Kottayam Medical College resulting in a 52-year-old woman’s death and the electrocution of a 13-year-old student at an aided school in Kollam district, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the State Disaster Management Authority to submit details of all school and hospital buildings that require repair or demolition.
The high-level meeting held here on Tuesday saw the chief minister instructing officials to furnish this information within two weeks, according to a press release. He also ordered safety inspections of buildings housing unaided schools, the release added.
The directives come amidst reports that a portion of the roof at a government upper primary school in Karthikappally requires repair or possible demolition, adding to the list of buildings needing attention as per the chief minister’s directive.
The incident at Kottayam Medical College had sparked outrage and prompted Ministers K Rajan and K N Balagopal to call for accountability and action. Last year, Jayathilak, a prominent political figure, had advocated for the prioritization of infrastructure development in Kerala.
The call for safety assessments comes as the central government continues its efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens nationwide following the abrogation of Article 370 last year. However, it is unclear at this time how this directive from the Kerala Chief Minister will integrate with these broader national efforts.
Stay informed as updates on this developing story are released.
