At least seven people, among them a young girl and two tourists from Kerala, lost their lives after a boundary wall at the state-run Bowring Hospital caved in. The tragedy unfolded as heavy rain, hail, and a thunderstorm battered several parts of Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Officials confirmed that five women were among the injured, taking the total number of those hurt to seven.
Those who died have been identified as Mohammed Abdul Haq (52), a cloth trader from MR Palya; Fayaz Ahmed (39), a footwear seller from DJ Halli; Musaveer Begum (6), a student from KG Halli; Latha KK (57) and Smitha (47), both residents of Ernakulam in Kerala; MD Salauddin Ansari (36), a vendor from Uttar Pradesh; and Naseemulla (19), originally from Assam and engaged in car-related work.
The injured include Preeti (51), Sija (45), and Maya (51), all visitors from Kerala, along with Tabrin Taj (47), Mubeen Taj (49), Azyu (35), and Mohammad Sajid (21), who hails from Bihar but was living in Shivajinagar.
The collapse occurred near the hospital premises, where several people, including street vendors and shoppers, had gathered for shelter as the weather worsened.
According to officials, a group of 56 tourists from Kerala had been shopping in the nearby Commercial Street area when the sudden downpour began. Some reportedly ignored warnings and stood close to the wall, which later gave way.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim. He also directed that all injured persons receive free medical treatment.
CM Siddaramaiah later visited the hospital’s emergency ward and the site of the collapse. He expressed concern and questioned officials about safety measures.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested that better precautions could have prevented the tragedy and criticised lapses in oversight.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described the incident as deeply unfortunate and said it should not have occurred. Political reactions followed across parties, with the Bharatiya Janata Party expressing grief over the loss of lives.
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also conveyed shock, calling the incident distressing.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka visited the location and met those injured at the hospital.
Authorities have begun reviewing the circumstances surrounding the collapse. They are also examining concerns over structural safety and preparedness during severe weather conditions.
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