Latest news with #KottayamMedicalCollege
India Gazette
05-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kerala: Youth Congress workers stage protest over Kottayam building collapse
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 5 (ANI): A group of Youth Congress workers staged a protest march outside the official residence of Kerala Health Minister Veena George in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, demanding her resignation over the building collapse at the Kottayam Medical College. Police used water cannons to disperse the workers of the Youth Congress and detained them. This comes after a building block collapsed at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, claiming an individual's life and injuring two others on July 3. Earlier on Friday, a group of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) youth wing workers also staged a protest march outside the Kerala Health Minister's residence in Thiruvananthapuram. BJP workers also held a protest on Friday, demanding Minister George's resignation over the issue. Minister for Ports, Cooperation, and Devaswoms, VN Vasavan, described the Kottayam Medical College building collapse as an 'unfortunate' incident and announced that the Kerala government would provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the affected family. He said, 'CM visited the spot yesterday itself. Rs 50,000 will be given as immediate help to the family. The State Cabinet will discuss and decide on financial help for the family. Kottayam Medical College is one of the best-performing hospitals in India. The incident is unfortunate.' He further clarified that there was no lapse from the government side and added, 'Did not ask to stop rescue operation, it was for making way to let the Hitachi excavator enter. The rescue was only possible with the help of a machine.' 'The health minister said yesterday that nobody was stuck there because the hospital superintendent told the minister that the building was not in use,' he further said. Shifting the blame on the previous government of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he said, 'In 2013, the PWD (Public Works Department) submitted a report about the condition of the building. Then the UDF government did not act on it.' (ANI)
United News of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Kerala CM leaves for Mayo Clinic in US for treatment
Thiruvananthapuram, July 5 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with his wife, flew to the United States today for specialized medical treatment. The Chief Minister, whose trip is scheduled for ten days, departed from Thiruvananthapuram Airport in the early hours via Dubai. He is visiting the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for follow-up consultation and further treatment, having previously sought care at the same facility. During his foreign visits, the Chief Minister typically does not delegate responsibilities. He usually attends cabinet meetings online and oversees urgent official matters remotely. His wife, T. Kamala, and personal staff member V.M. Suneesh accompanied him on the trip. Although the Chief Minister had initially planned to travel to the US before the Nilambur by-election, the visit was postponed due to election-related commitments. The journey was finalized as the medical evaluations and treatment could no longer be delayed. The Chief Minister's visit comes at a time when the state's healthcare system is facing widespread criticism and public outrage. Amidst this backdrop, controversy continues over a recent incident in which a woman died following the collapse of a building at Kottayam Medical College. Critics have pointed out that the Chief Minister did not meet the family of the deceased, Bindu. In contrast, the Oommen Chandy Foundation (named after the late Congress Chief Minister) has extended Rs 5 lakh to help the family complete the construction of their house. The Chief Minister's departure follows a viral Facebook post by Dr. Harris Chiraykkal, Head of the Urology Department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, which highlighted systemic issues in the hospital and triggered public concern over the state's healthcare infrastructure. Meanwhile, the tragic death at Kottayam Medical College has intensified the political storm, prompting the Opposition to organize statewide protests demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George. It is amidst this politically and socially charged atmosphere that the Chief Minister has left for the United States. He also underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic in 2018, 2022 and 2023. UNI DS RKM
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Health minister Veena George draws Opposition ire, demand for resignation intensifies
PATHANAMTHITTA: Opposition parties have intensified protests against Health Minister Veena George following the death of a woman in the Kottayam Medical College building collapse. On Friday, Youth Congress activists staged a dramatic protest at the minister's family residence in Mylapra, carrying a symbolic coffin while demanding her resignation. The protestors attempted to bring the coffin into the compound, prompting police intervention. One of the slogans pasted on banners read, 'This ship is going to sink,' a phrase prominently displayed by Youth Congress state office-bearer Nahas Pathanamthitta, who climbed atop the barricades during the protest. The KSU also joined the protest at Mylapra, adding to the political heat. The protest, led by the District Congress Committee, was blocked near the minister's office, resulting in a tense standoff. Youth Congress workers, led by constituency president Nejo, clashed with the police as they attempted to breach the barricades. Several workers were taken into custody after being forcibly removed by the police. The political backlash has also exposed cracks within the CPI(M)'s own ranks. Pathanamthitta district secretary Raju Abraham admitted that social media posts by certain party functionaries could have been avoided. He stated that the Facebook post by Johnson P J, a local committee member, should have been withdrawn. However, he maintained that a separate comment by Eraviperoor area committee member N Rajeev did not appear to target the minister directly. With both Opposition parties and dissent within the CPI(M) growing louder, the fallout from the Kottayam incident shows no signs of abating. Meanwhile, the BJP took to the streets in Pathanamthitta, marching to Veena George's constituency office with provocative banners, including ones with graphics demanding her resignation.
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
IUML youth workers protest outside Kerala Health Minister's residence over Kottayam Medical College building collapse
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 4 (ANI): A group of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) youth wing workers staged a protest march outside the official residence of Kerala Health Minister Veena George in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, demanding her resignation over the collapse of a building block at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam. The incident claimed the life of one person, while two others were injured. Visuals from the scene showed IUML workers trying to breach police barricades, prompting the police to use water cannons to disperse them. Earlier in the day, BJP workers also held a protest demanding Minister George's resignation over the issue. Minister for Ports, Cooperation, and Devaswoms, VN Vasavan, described the Kottayam Medical College building collapse as an 'unfortunate' incident and announced that the Kerala government would provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the affected family. He said, 'CM visited the spot yesterday itself. Rs 50,000 will be given as immediate help to the family. The State Cabinet will discuss and decide on financial help to the family. Kottayam Medical College is one of the best-performing hospitals in India. The incident is unfortunate.'He further clarified that there was no lapse from the government side and added, 'Did not ask to stop rescue operation, it was for making way to let the Hitachi excavator enter. Rescue was only possible with the help of a machine.' 'The health minister said yesterday that nobody was stuck there because the hospital superintendent told the minister that the building was not in use,' he further said. Shifting the blame on the previous government of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he said, 'In 2013, the PWD (Public Works Department) submitted a report about the condition of the building. Then the UDF government did not act on it.' (ANI)
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kerala: BJP stages protest march to Health Minister's house over woman's death at Kottayam Medical College
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 4 (ANI): Kerala Police used water cannons to disperse BJP workers who staged a protest march on Friday against State Health Minister Veena George following the building collapse at Kottayam Medical College, in which one person was killed and several others sustained injuries. The protest began in response to an incident where a building block at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam district collapsed. Tensions escalated when BJP workers breached barricades set up by the police. In response, police used water cannons to control the crowd and prevent them from reaching the minister's residence. Earlier in the day, workers from the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) also staged a protest in front of Kottayam Medical College. They are demanding the resignation of Kerala Health Minister Veena George. Meanwhile, Minister for Ports, Cooperation, and Devaswoms, VN Vasavan, described the Kottayam Medical College building collapse as an 'unfortunate' incident and announced that the Kerala government will provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the affected family. He said, 'CM visited the spot yesterday itself. Rs 50,000 will be given as immediate help to the family. The State Cabinet will discuss and decide on financial help to the family. Kottayam Medical College is one of the best-performing hospitals in India. The incident is unfortunate.'He further clarified that there was no lapse from the government side and added, 'Did not ask to stop rescue operation, it was for making way to let the Hitachi excavator enter. Rescue was only possible with the help of a machine.' 'The health minister said yesterday that nobody was stuck there because the hospital superintendent told the minister that the building was not in use,' he further said. Shifting the blame on the previous government of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he said, 'In 2013, the PWD (Public Works Department) submitted a report about the condition of the building. Then the UDF government did not act on it.' (ANI)
