Kottayam (Kerala) |Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday visited the family of a woman who died after a portion of a building of the Government Medical College Hospital collapsed here three days ago.
52-year-old Bindu, who was accompanying her inpatient daughter, got trapped in the debris after part of a building in the hospital collapsed on Thursday.
George, along with local CPI(M) leaders, reached the home of the victim on Sunday morning, a day after the state witnessed raging protests seeking her resignation over the tragedy.
The minister interacted with Bindhu's husband, her mother and children and assured them of all support from the government.
While talking to reporters here later, the health minister said the tragic death of Bindu was heartbreaking and utmost painful.
"As far as I am concerned, this family's sorrow is my sorrow. I met her husband, mother and all other relatives and shared their grief. The government will be with them completely in all aspects," she said.
George said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan already talked about this and the relief measures for the family would be announced by him based on the decisions of the state cabinet.
Appropriate decisions for the family would be taken soon, the minister added.
Bindu's husband Vishruthan said the minister assured the family that their son would be given a permanent job in the government sector.
The family has hope in the government and they are satisfied with the interventions made by the authorities so far, he said.
Meanwhile, activists of the Youth League, the youth outfit of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), laid siege to a road in northern Kannur district demanding the resignation of Minister George.
The protesters engaged in a minor scuffle with the police personnel and they were removed forcibly by the law enforcers later.
In Pathanamthitta, Youth Congress activists who marched towards the health minister's home on Saturday were taken into custody, triggering some tension.
A group of Youth Congress workers clashed with police in the district hospital premises, protesting police action of taking their party colleagues into custody. They tried to block the police vehicle but were removed by the officers later.
The toilet complex adjacent to wards 10, 11, and 14 of Kottayam Government Medical College collapsed on Thursday while the hospital was in the process of fully shifting operations to the newly constructed surgical block.
Bindu (52) had died, and three others sustained injuries in the incident.
While the Congress and BJP termed the death as "tantamount to murder" and staged widespread protests seeking the resignation of Veena George, state ministers, including VN Vasavan, Saji Cheriyan, P A Mohammed Riyas and V Sivankutty, strongly supported her and said such allegations were "politically motivated".
