BENGALURU
The bodies of seven people who died in the compound wall collapse near Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital have been handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations were completed under police security late Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, all seven bodies were released to relatives.
An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been registered at Commercial Street police station in connection with the incident, which occurred after heavy rains lashed Bengaluru on Wednesday evening, leading to the collapse of the hospital compound wall.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Abdul Haque (52), Fayaz Ahmed (39), six-year-old Musaveer Begum, Kerala tourists Latha (57) and Smita (47), Mohammad Salauddin Ansari (36) from Uttar Pradesh, and Naseemullah (19) from Assam. All were reportedly trading or present on the adjacent footpath when the wall collapsed, killing them on the spot.
Three others from Kerala—Preeti (51), Sija (45) and Maya (51)—were also injured in the incident and are currently undergoing treatment at Bowring Hospital.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Urban Development portfolio, visited the hospital and reviewed the situation. He said he was informed about the incident while attending a KDP meeting in Kanakapura and immediately rushed back to the city. On his way, he noted widespread damage due to heavy rain, including around 50 fallen trees and disrupted traffic.
MLA Rizwan Arshad described the incident as deeply unfortunate and said the collapse of the compound wall, reportedly built 25 to 30 years ago, must be thoroughly investigated. He said the government has already ordered a probe and assured that a detailed report will be submitted soon, followed by appropriate action.
Authorities have announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Officials also pointed out that while many old structures in the city have withstood decades of weather conditions, the sudden collapse of this wall after heavy rainfall raises serious questions about maintenance and structural stability.
A comprehensive investigation will examine construction quality, maintenance records, and the impact of continuous rain before fixing responsibility for the tragedy that claimed seven lives and injured several others in one of the city’s busiest hospital zones.