BENGALURU: The tragedy in which seven people died when part of the Bowring Hospital compound wall collapsed on them on April 29 could have been prevented had the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) cleared the footpath encroachment there and the then BBMP repaired the damaged compound wall.
This was stated in a report submitted by an investigation team led by the superintendent of police of Karnataka Lokayukta to Lokayukta Justice BS Patil. The report was placed before the Lokayukta during a hearing on Thursday in which Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh and other officials participated.
The report stated that the height of the compound wall was 2.8 metres as against 1.5 to 2.4 metres as per the Indian Building Code. The compound wall had no earth-retaining structure and weep holes to discharge rainwater.
In 2008-09, the compound wall was damaged when a lorry rammed it, and construction debris dumped there in 2018-19. There are no permanent civil engineers in the institution (not named) as neither the government nor the departments concerned have taken steps to appoint them. Though an approval was given for appointment of civil engineers on a contract basis in 2024, no engineer was appointed, the report said.
The report said the high court closed six writ petitions on March 3, 2025, following an undertaking by a counsel of the then BBMP that steps will be taken to rehabilitate the street vendors or roadside vendors. The GBA should have found a permanent solution by taking steps to clear the footpath encroachment there with assistance from local police. But that was not done.
However, the report stated that cases have been registered by the local police under Section 285 of BNS and Karnataka Police Act against street vendors for encroaching the footpath and nearby roads.
The report noted that the tragedy could have been prevented had the GBA officials taken steps to identify dilapidated buildings, walls, and other dangerous spots in the city.
Shalini Rajaneesh informed the Lokayukta that a criminal case has been registered against the contractor concerned and notices issued to the engineers concerned. Further action will be taken against them after receiving their statements.
The additional chief secretary to the Urban Development Department said identity cards will be issued to street vendors within a month.