Kerala government announces Rs. 50,000 financial aid to victim of Kottayam Medical College
He said, 'CM visited the spot yesterday itself. Rs 50,000 will be given as immediate help to the family. The State Cabinet will discuss and decide on financial help to the family. Kottayam Medical College is one of the best-performing hospitals in India. The incident is unfortunate.'
He further clarified that there was no lapse from the government side and added, 'Did not ask to stop rescue operation, it was for making way to let the Hitachi excavator enter. Rescue was only possible with the help of a machine.'
'The health minister said yesterday that nobody was stuck there because the hospital superintendent told the minister that the building was not in use,' he further said.
Shifting the blame on the previous government of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he said, 'In 2013, the PWD (Public Works Department) submitted a report about the condition of the building. Then the UDF government did not act on it.'
Vasvan praised his party and also stated that if the UDF government had acted promptly, this incident would have been avoided. He also informed that the LDF government was using funds from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for the new building construction.
'After the LDF government came into power in 2016, a new building was completed using funds from KIIFB. If the then UDF government had acted on time, the building construction could have been completed earlier', he added.
A building block of the Government Medical College Hospital in Kerala's Kottayam collapsed on Thursday. In the collapse, one person died and several were injured. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
High court asks accused in cheating case with Navjot Sidhu's wife to deposit passport and participate in mediation
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday asked , who is facing criminal cases for allegedly duping cricketer-turned-political leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife, , to deposit his passport with the investigating officer upon arrival from Dubai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The HC also clarified that if he arrives in the country and attends the mediation centre to settle his dispute with Navjot Kaur amicably, the police shall not arrest him to facilitate his participation in the mediation proceedings. Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya passed these orders while hearing a petition filed by the accused, Gagandeep Singh. During the hearing of the case on Monday, counsels representing Navjot Kaur and Gagandeep Singh informed the bench that the disputes between them could be settled by way of mediation, and for this purpose, the parties may be referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of the Court. The bench accepted their request and referred the matter for mediation. 'Parties through their counsel are directed to appear before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre on August 12. In the meanwhile, the petitioner (Gagandeep Singh) will not be arrested to facilitate his participation in the mediation proceedings. He shall deposit his passport with the investigating officer on arriving in the country,' the HC ordered. As per the FIR, registered in October 2024 at Patiala, former MLA Navjot Kaur came into contact with Gagandeep Singh, alias Prince, who introduced himself as a partner of Ms Space Builders and Promoters and OTH Builders and Promoters, allegedly involved in real estate projects across Mohali and Zirakpur. Gagandeep allegedly gave assurances of high returns while asking the complainant for investment in some real estate projects. On this, Navjot Kaur and her relatives allegedly invested around Rs 10.35 crores through bank transfers as well as cash into the real estate venture represented by Gagandeep. Later, the returns were delayed, and the cheques issued by Gagandeep to refund money were dishonoured. On Navjot Kaur's complaint, an FIR was registered in Patiala. The accused approached the High Court for bail.
India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
Wage hike, arrear talks fail between Karnataka transport union and Siddaramaiah
Talks between the Karnataka government and transport corporation employees ended in a deadlock on Monday, with no agreement reached on key issues of wage revision and arrears employees had threatened to go on strike from Tuesday, but have now deferred their protest, citing a pending court hearing on the same of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Staff and Workers Federation, HV Anantha Subbarao, said the meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lasted two hours but failed to yield results. The unions are demanding a 25 per cent wage hike from the current base of Rs Rs 1,124 and arrears for 38 months, which they estimate to be around Rs 1,800 'The Chief Minister appealed to us to withdraw the strike. He offered to pay arrears for 14 months and begin wage negotiations only after the Assembly session. But we cannot accept that. We want arrears for the entire 38-month period, we worked during that time. We also want a commitment to start wage hike talks immediately,' Subbarao added that the issue is now narrowed down to 24 months' arrears, roughly Rs 1,000 crore, as the government has already agreed to pay for 14 months. 'This is not a fresh financial burden. Talks can still continue even during the strike, but the ball is in the government's court,' he Minister Siddaramaiah, however, said the unions' current demands go beyond what was agreed to earlier. 'In 2016, when I was Chief Minister, I had implemented a 12.5 per cent wage hike. In March 2023, the previous government signed an agreement for a 15 per cent increase in basic pay. A committee led by Srinivas Murthy recommended paying arrears from January 2022 to February 2023, and we have accepted that. But asking for 38 months of arrears now is unreasonable,' he pointed out that the financial condition of the transport corporations is fragile. 'When we came to power, the collective debt was Rs 4,000 crore. In 2018, it was only Rs 14 crore. None of the corporations are running in profit. The government will not act unfairly, but we all have to cooperate,' he insisted that matters should be resolved through dialogue and said the possibility of holding elections to transport unions would be examined. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and several corporation chairpersons and union leaders were present at the the strike has been deferred, the deadlock remains. 'There will be no protest tomorrow. We will wait for the court hearing on Tuesday before deciding our next course of action,' the union said.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
New Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Chaitanya Baghel's judicial remand extended till August 18
RAIPUR: The judicial remand of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been extended by another 14 days by the special PMLA court in Raipur in connection with the ongoing probe linked to multi-crore liquor scam case. Chaitanya, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 from his Bhilai residence, was produced before the court upon the expiry of his initial 14-day remand. Chaitanya's counsel, Faisal Rizvi, stated, "The ED sought another routine 14-day judicial remand, which the court granted, extending custody till August 18. The court also directed the agency to file a charge sheet within seven days." The ED's remand document alleges Chaitanya's key role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore linked to the excise scam, with a portion allegedly funneled into his real estate project, 'Vitthal Green', under Baghel Developers. The agency claims investigation reveals Rs 16.70 crore of scam proceeds were laundered through his real-estate ventures 'Vitthal Green' under Baghel Developers. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel, now an MLA from Patan, accused the Centre of misusing agencies to target opposition leaders. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court, hearing a petition by Baghel and his son seeking protection from coercive action in multiple money laundering cases, directed them to approach the Chhattisgarh High Court for interim relief. The cases, involving alleged scams, are being probed by the ED, CBI, and state police.
