Pramesh S Jain
In a major development following the Bowring Hospital wall collapse,the Lokayukta has decided to register a case against senior government officials,including Chief Secretary,Shalini Rajneesh,and GBA Chief Commissioner, Maheshwar Rao,DCP East,and traffic police officers and local police jurisdictional staff.
A day after heavy rains lashed Bengaluru,a tragic wall collapse near Bowring Hospital in Shivajinagar claimed the lives of seven people, including women and children, on Wednesday.
In the wake of the incident,the Lokayukta,along with the Upa Lokayukta,senior police officials and other concerned authorities, visited the spot to assess the situation.
The officials also met the families of the deceased and expressed their condolences.They later visited the injured undergoing treatment at the hospital and enquired about their condition.
Speaking to the media after the inspection,the Lokayukta said preliminary findings indicate that the compound wall had a weak foundation and was constructed using only cement blocks.
He pointed out that excessive dumping of sand alongside the wall further contributed to the collapse.
The wall,he noted,was unable to withstand the pressure of accumulated rainwater and the additional load of sand.
The Lokayukta has directed the concerned departments to submit a detailed report on the alleged negligence of officials.He assured that strict legal action would be initiated against those found responsible.
Further,officials from civic agencies have been instructed to immediately conduct a city-wide survey to identify old and dilapidated compound walls,especially in areas frequented by the public and children.
The Lokayukta emphasized that such hazardous structures must be removed without delay and replaced with safe and stable constructions.
He also announced that a suo motu case would be registered to ensure that similar incidents do not recur, not just in Bengaluru but across the state,and that systematic measures would be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Later,the Lokayukta visited the injured victims admitted to the hospital and held discussions with doctors regarding their treatment.
He assured that the government would bear the entire cost of medical care,including medicines,and that appropriate compensation would be provided to all the injured.
The Lokayukta also inspected the waterlogged KR Circle underpass,which was submerged due to the rains.
He stated that officials responsible for the situation would be held accountable and that immediate steps would be taken to clear water and debris,while working towards a permanent solution.
Referring to similar issues in Seshadripuram and Thindlu underpasses,he noted that previous interventions involving coordination between civic bodies had resolved flooding problems there.
A similar approach would be adopted to address the recurring issue at KR Circle,he added.
The Lokayukta made it clear that officials and department heads directly responsible for such lapses would be summoned for inquiry,and stringent legal action would follow based on the findings.
