Vasavan said the building was not in use and had become a dumping area for waste. However, eyewitnesses at the scene said that the bathrooms were still operational and had been used by patients and bystanders arriving at the 14th ward.

It was only after Bindu’s daughter reported that her mother had gone to the bathroom and could not be reached by phone that authorities decided to conduct a thorough search of the debris.

By the time Bindu was recovered from the rubble and shifted to the casualty department, which was only a few metres away from the accident site, she had already succumbed to her injuries.

Rajan Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, arrived at the site. The authorities evacuated patients and bystanders from wards 10, 11 and 14 following the accident.

The incident sparked widespread protests from opposition parties, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the condition of facilities at government medical colleges and the structural integrity of the buildings.

UDF leaders, including Chandy Oommen MLA, visited the site and raised alarms about the building’s usage.