Kozhikode godown collapse kills four; protests erupt for accountability
Kozhikode godown collapse kills four; protests erupt for accountability
Four headload workers died when a 60-year-old godown slab collapsed in Valiyangadi, Kozhikode, triggering protests and calls for accountability, including culpable homicide charges against authorities.
Massive protests erupted on Monday (February 23) after the concrete slab of an old godown collapsed at Valiyangadi, killing four headload workers. The nearly 60-year-old building had long raised concerns about safety, with residents saying structural weaknesses went unaddressed for years.
Protests were led by BJP workers and the Youth Congress. A march from Valiyangadi to the Corporation office was met by police, and at times the crowd breached barriers, with some activists entering the Mayor’s chamber. The Youth Congress Kozhikode district committee laid siege to the office of the Corporation secretary. Several protesters were arrested as police moved to restore order.
Politicians and party leaders pressed for action. MP M.K. Raghavan urged a case of culpable homicide against Corporation authorities, arguing that the city’s aging godowns should have been repaired or safely demolished. District Congress leaders demanded immediate compensation of ₹25 lakh for each family and called for the inquiry to be supervised by a sitting judge. The Indian Union Muslim League also called for accountability. The incident has sharpened scrutiny of public safety and the responsibilities of the civic body, with officials promising investigations and a review of similar structures in the city.
