Wall collapse: Govt orders twin probe, safety audit across Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The state govt has constituted two committees to investigate the collapse of a compound wall at the govt-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital following heavy rain that left seven people dead. Both panels have been asked to submit reports within a week.Chief minister Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered a probe and suspended an executive engineer in connection with the incident.One committee, comprising the deputy commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district and the Yelahanka tahsildar, will conduct a local inquiry. A second, five-member technical panel of public works department (PWD) officials, headed by retired chief engineer Mohan K, will examine structural aspects.The terms of reference mandate the panels to verify when the wall was built, the materials used, and factors that may have led to the collapse. They will also assess whether maintenance norms were followed, if any recent works weakened the structure, and whether the wall had exceeded its lifecycle and required rebuilding."On April 29, because of heavy rain in Bengaluru city, the compound wall of Bowring Hospital suddenly collapsed, resulting in the death of seven people on the spot, including a girl standing for shelter from the rain. The CM has taken a serious view of the incident," the govt order read. Stating that delayed repairs contributed to the tragedy, the order added: "PWD has been directed to conduct an inquiry in this matter, obtain an explanation from the officials concerned, and urgently submit a report through the retired chief engineer."In a parallel move, deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the Greater Bengaluru Authority has begun identifying hazardous structures and trees across the city to prevent accidents and ease congestion. "They have identified for the first phase 448 trees. At some places, where there are trees which have completely dried up, they will be cut," he said.Shivakumar said the exercise, based on inputs from police and led by joint commissioner Karthik Reddy, covers old buildings, compound walls, and risky trees. "A list has been given to the corporation. I'm directing them today to go ahead and cut the trees," he said.
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