Tragic Collapse at Bengaluru Hospital Claims Lives Amid Severe Weather
Incident Overview
A screengrab image of the accident site(Source : @Rohit51388267/X)
Bengaluru, April 29: A tragic incident occurred when a compound wall at Bowring Hospital collapsed during a severe thunderstorm, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals. The heavy rain and hailstorm affected various regions of Bengaluru on Wednesday evening, and the number of casualties may increase.
Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, who represents the Shivajinagar Constituency where the incident took place, confirmed the fatalities late Wednesday. He expressed his shock, stating, “I have just received information that seven others are injured, but thankfully, none are in critical condition. I am heading to the site to gather more details. The wall was old but appeared stable. Those responsible will face consequences.”
The Chief Minister's office verified the incident, noting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the site at Bowring Hospital, where the tragedy unfolded.
Authorities reported that approximately 11 individuals trapped under the collapsed wall have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been briefed about the situation.
Initial reports indicate that among the deceased are seven individuals, including three children, who were caught under the wall. Hospital and police officials have yet to release a formal statement.
The compound wall, constructed from cement and bricks, collapsed near the entrance of the accident ward during the intense rainfall.
There are also reports of one person in critical condition. Most victims were roadside vendors, and the children were accompanying their guardians due to the summer break. Two women are included among the deceased.
Further updates are pending as police, fire services, and emergency responders are on-site conducting debris removal operations.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru Development, commented on the incident while in Kanakapura, stating, “I will look into the details of this unfortunate event. While rain is essential, I had come to meet with the public and officials regarding their concerns. I will postpone my program and return after May 4 to visit the site.”
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh has also arrived at the location.
The heavy rainfall, which persisted for nearly an hour, caused significant waterlogging on major roads, damaging parked vehicles as tree branches fell. Initially welcomed after a prolonged heatwave, the rain quickly became problematic.
Additionally, rainwater flooded the Banashankari Metro station, affecting the ticket counter area.
According to the BBMP command and control center, 50 trees have fallen. Authorities are urging the media to disseminate information to alert the public about roadblocks.