Kottayam hospital building collapse: Kerala Health Minister Veena George meets Bindu’s family

As State-wide protests continue demanding immediate resignation of Health Minister Veena George, the Minister on Sunday (July 6, 2025) visited the family of Bindu, who was killed in the building collapse at the Kottayam Government Medical College last week.

Accompanied by some CPI(M) leaders and amidst heavy police presence, the Minister arrived at Bindu’s residence in Thalayolaparambu at around 7:10 a.m. She consoled the grieving family and described the incident as unfortunate. Assuring the family that the government stands firmly with them, she added that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would soon announce a compensation for the family.

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Earlier, Ms. George had reached out to the family over the phone and assured them that the government would bear the full cost of treatment for Navami, the victim’s daughter.

Police use water canon against Youth Congress workers when they staged a march to the district Medical Office demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George following the building collapse at the Government Medical College, Kottayam.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat

Meanwhile, the police on Sunday (July 6, 2025) recorded the arrest of Youth Congress Pathanamthitta district General Secretary Jithin G. Ninan in connection with the ongoing protests against the Health Minister. The leader was taken into custody from his residence in Kottayam, sparking strong resistance from party workers who tried to block the police from making the arrest.

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Officials said Mr. Ninan had been booked for damaging public property during a protest held in Pathanamthitta on Saturday evening (July 5, 2025), demanding the resignation of both the Chief Minister and the Health Minister over the tragic incident at the medical college. The Youth Congress leader is accused of breaking a window of the police bus by striking it with a flagpole during a clash that broke out inside the vehicle while he and other Youth Congress activists were being transported after the demonstration.

Though the YC activists were granted bail and released the same day, a police team reached Mr. Ninan’s house again on Sunday morning (July 6, 2025) and arrested him in connection with the damage caused. Despite efforts by Youth Congress workers to block the police at the residence, Mr. Ninan was taken into custody and shifted to the police station.