A tragic incident unfolded in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru, where the compound wall of Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital collapsed on Wednesday evening, killing seven people, including a six-year-old girl, and injuring seven others.
Victims Include Women, Men, and a Child
According to officials, the deceased comprise two women, four men, and a young girl. Among the injured are three women from Ernakulam, Kerala — identified as Preeti (51), Sija (45), and Maya (51) — who had travelled to Bengaluru.
The other injured include Jabeen Taj (47), Mubeen Taj (49), Ajju (35), and Mohammed Sajid (21), residents of the city originally from Bihar.
Rain, Construction Work Blamed for Collapse
Preliminary reports suggest that heavy rainfall combined with structural stress from ongoing construction work on the decades-old building led to the collapse. The wall, estimated to be around 12 feet high and one foot thick, gave way suddenly around 5:45 PM during a thunderstorm.
Several victims were vendors who had set up shops along the footpath, while others were passersby seeking shelter from the rain.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaos
Eyewitnesses recounted that the rain began around 5 PM, followed by strong winds and thunder. Within minutes, the wall collapsed without warning, trapping more than a dozen people under the debris.
Local residents rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals even before emergency services arrived.
CM Siddaramaiah Orders Probe, Announces Compensation
Siddaramaiah visited the site and met with the victims. He announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.
The Chief Minister also reprimanded officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and hospital staff for alleged negligence. He has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident, directing authorities to fix accountability and take strict action against those responsible.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse and assess whether safety norms were violated during the ongoing construction work.
The incident has raised serious concerns over infrastructure safety and maintenance in public healthcare facilities, especially during extreme weather conditions
