TIRUPATI: A 31-year-old outsourced employee, K Radhika, who was two months pregnant, died on the spot, and two Covid-19 patients suffered injuries when a concrete slab of an under-construction three-storey building collapsed on them in Tirupati late on Sunday. A Covid hospital is being run from the ground floor of the building, which is an extension of Sri Padmavathi Medical College and Hospital under the SVIMS management.
Deputy Chief Minister (Health) Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas (Nani) announced an ex-gratia of `10 lakh to the family of the deceased, and an immediate assistance of `2 lakh to each of the injured patients. He also ordered a probe into the incident. The Alipiri police registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC. The construction of the third floor, which began before the general elections, has been paused for more than a year now. Radhika was working under the Mahila Vikas project of the RASS (Rashtriya Seva Samithi) as a bedside assistant at SVIMS hospital for the past 13 years.
“It was a very unfortunate incident. We will ensure support from the hospital,” said SVIMS director B Vengamma. One of the injured coronavirus patients suffered a leg fracture and will be shifted to BIRRD hospital once she recovers from Covid-19. She is being treated at the State Covid hospital along with her son, who sustained minor injuries, the SVIMS director added. Sources from SVIMS said the incident happened when Radhika was moving a newly-admitted Covid-19 patient to a ward through an alley.
Action will be taken against guilty: Minister
A part of a concrete slab on the third floor fell on her, killing her on the spot. While the woman patient sustained severe injuries, her son, who also has Covid-19 and was walking with them to be admitted, escaped with minor injuries. Expressing shock over the incident, the Health Minister directed the SVIMS director to conduct a probe and ensure quality in the construction. “It was an unfortunate accident. Once the probe report is submitted, action will be taken against those responsible,” the minister said.
District Joint Collector Veera Brahmam and Tirupati Urban SP Avula Ramesh Reddy also inspected the accident site and inquired about the situation. Officials suspect the concrete slab might have got detached due to the recent heavy rains.Local leaders of the BJP and TDP rushed to the spot late on Sunday night and blamed the hospital authorities and the contractor, saying the quality of the construction was poor. They demanded that the government probe the mishap and arrest those responsible, besides providing an ex-gratia of `1 crore to the worker’s family.
“An inquiry is underway and it would be too early to discover the exact reason for the accident, said sources. The SVIMS director handed over RS 25,000 in cash to the family of the victim as immediate financial assistance from the institute.