Two killed, 2 injured after building under demolition collapses

Two people were killed and two others injured after a building undergoing demolition collapsed on them at Muthalakkodam, near Thodupuzha in Idukki, on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Joy P.J., 61, a resident of Kothamangalam, and Anoop Mathew, 45, a resident of Malayinkeezhu.

The injured workers are Mithil Mandal, 25, from Assam and Govindaraj from Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu. According to the police, the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. near the Muthalakkodam Girls High School. The building, named Sanjo Bhavan, served as a retirement home for priests under the Kothamangalam diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church.

To construct a new rest home, church authorities decided to raze the old structure and awarded the demolition contract to Joy. While workers were dismantling timber from the building, a concrete sunshade slab suddenly collapsed on top of Joy, Anoop, Mithil and Govindaraj, trapping them beneath the rubble.

Following a major rescue effort, all four were pulled from the debris and rushed to St. George Hospital in Muthalakkodam. Doctors declared two of them dead on arrival. The two injured workers remain under critical medical care.

Kothamangalam Diocese Chancellor Fr. Jose Kulathoor stated that the diocese had secured the necessary permits from the Thodupuzha Municipality for both the demolition and new construction. “The diocese decided to build a new priest home at the site, and the demolition was underway when the accident took place.

The priests had already been shifted out of the old building earlier,” Fr. Kulathoor said. Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt has sought an immediate report on the incident from the authorities. Thodupuzha DySP Saji Markose stated that police will investigate whether any safety lapses occurred during the demolition process.

Personnel from the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and the local police led the rescue operations. According to Thodupuzha Municipal authorities, permission was issued for the demolition, and officials will inspect whether guidelines were followed during the demolition of the building.