Idukki demolition collapse: Two workers dead, two critical after building caves in

At least two workers were killed and two others seriously injured after a building undergoing demolition collapsed near Muthalakkodam Girls High School in Thodupuzha, Idukki district, on Monday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Joy P.J., 61, of Kothamangalam, and Anoop Mathew, 45, of Malayinkeezhu, both of whom were engaged in dismantling the structure.

The injured workers, Mithil Mandal, 25, of Assam, and Govindaraj of Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, were pulled out from under the debris after a rescue operation and are currently receiving critical care at St. George Hospital in Muthalakkodam.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. at a building named Sanjo Bhavan, which was being demolished on the orders of the Kothamangalam diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church. The structure, previously used as a retirement home for priests, was to be razed to make way for a new rest house. The demolition contract had been awarded to Joy, one of the deceased.

According to police, workers were manually removing timber from the building when a concrete sunshade slab suddenly gave way and collapsed onto the four men. The heavy slab left them trapped beneath a pile of concrete and steel. Rescue teams from the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and local police were immediately dispatched to the site. After intense efforts, the four workers were extricated from the wreckage and rushed to the nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced two of them dead on arrival.

Initial reports suggest that the demolition was being carried out under a valid permit issued by the Thodupuzha Municipality. Fr. Jose Kulathoor, Chancellor of the Kothamangalam Diocese, confirmed that the church had obtained the necessary permissions for both the demolition and the subsequent construction. He said the priests had already been moved out of the old building before demolition work began. "The diocese decided to build a new priest home at the site, and the demolition was underway when the accident took place," Fr. Kulathoor stated.

Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. Authorities have been asked to submit a report at the earliest. Thodupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police Saji Markose said the police will investigate whether any safety norms were violated during the demolition process. "A thorough probe will be conducted to determine if there was negligence on the part of the contractor or the agency responsible for the demolition," he said.

Municipal authorities have also indicated that an inspection will be carried out to verify whether all guidelines for safe demolition were followed. The collapse has once again brought attention to the safety of workers engaged in demolition activities, particularly in small towns where regulatory oversight may be inconsistent. Labour rights activists have often pointed out that workers, many of whom migrate from other states, are frequently not provided with adequate safety gear or training.

Officials have not yet commented on whether the workers had been provided with helmets or other protective equipment. The condition of the two injured workers remains critical, and hospital authorities have said they are under constant observation.

Local residents recounted hearing a loud noise just before the collapse. Many gathered at the scene, but rescue workers kept them at a distance while the operation was underway. The site has since been cordoned off to allow investigators to examine the debris and determine the exact cause of the structural failure.

This tragedy follows a pattern of accidents involving old buildings in Kerala, where ageing structures are often demolished manually due to limited space for heavy machinery. Experts say such operations require meticulous planning and strict adherence to safety protocols, especially when buildings contain heavy concrete elements.