Fri Jul 04 15:40:42 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Following the collapse of a building at Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kerala, resulting in the death of one bystander, Bindu, the state government is vehemently denying accusations of delayed rescue efforts. Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan insists Bindu died instantly from a head injury and dismisses the Opposition’s claims of government negligence as “maliciously misleading.” The government has pledged support to Bindu’s family, including free treatment for her daughter at Apollo Hospital, temporary employment for her son, and a compensation package to be determined by the Kottayam Collector. Vasavan defended the response time and highlighted the challenges faced by rescue workers. He accused the Congress and BJP of politicizing the tragedy and attempting to discredit the hospital, a leader in organ transplants and cardiothoracic surgeries. He also defended the hospital superintendent, Dr. T.K. Jayakumar, against criticism, highlighting his achievements and contributions to the hospital’s development.
**News Article:**
**Kerala Government Denies Negligence in Hospital Building Collapse, Accuses Opposition of Politicizing Tragedy**
**Thiruvananthapuram, July 4, 2025** – The Kerala state government is strongly refuting allegations of delayed rescue efforts following the partial collapse of a building at the Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Thursday, which resulted in the death of 52-year-old Bindu.
Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan addressed reporters on Friday, stating that the post-mortem report indicated Bindu died instantly from a fatal head injury sustained from falling debris. He vehemently denied opposition claims that the government’s alleged initial assessment that no one was trapped beneath the rubble contributed to Bindu’s death.
“The Congress’s propaganda is a maliciously misleading lie,” Vasavan stated, emphasizing that rescue workers arrived at the scene promptly despite challenges navigating the site due to a lack of dedicated emergency pathways and an iron barricade that had to be cut through.
The government has pledged full support to Bindu’s family. Apollo Hospital will provide free treatment for her daughter, Veena, who requires extensive medical care, and Bindu’s son will receive temporary employment. The Cabinet will finalize the compensation amount for the family on July 11, based on a report from the Kottayam Collector.
Vasavan accused the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the tragedy for political gain. He criticized them for staging protests at the hospital and obstructing the ambulance carrying Bindu’s body. He further accused them of attempting to tarnish the reputation of the MCH, a leading institution in organ transplants and cardiothoracic surgery, and defended the hospital superintendent, Dr. T.K. Jayakumar, highlighting his significant contributions to the hospital’s development and his achievements as a renowned surgeon. Vasavan noted that liver transplants at MCH cost only ₹3 lakh, a fraction of the ₹50 lakh charged by corporate hospitals.
The administration evacuated 360 patients from six wards to a safer location following the collapse. The two individuals who sustained injuries were transferred to critical care units. The investigation into the cause of the building collapse is ongoing.
First Piper 