A tragic incident unfolded on April 29 after heavy rains lashed Bengaluru, leading to the collapse of a compound wall of Bowring Hospital which came crashing down on street vendors and others taking shelter from the downpour. Seven persons, including three street vendors, were killed in the incident.
Some of the deceased and injured were taken to Bowring Hospital, while two injured street vendors were undergoing treatment at Victoria Hospital. The affected street vendors were members of the AICCTU affiliated Street Vendors Union, and representatives of the organisation were present at both hospitals.
The Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha (Street Vendors Union) expressed deep condolences to the families and friends of the deceased street vendors and others who lost their lives in the incident.
The Union demanded that the State Government announce an ex gratia compensation of Rs 25 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh for the injured, along with ensuring full and free medical treatment for all those affected. It also called for an inquiry into the incident to ascertain the reasons behind the wall collapse and to fix responsibility in case of faulty construction.
The Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha pointed out that the thunderstorm rains that struck Bengaluru for over an hour were unprecedented and came after a prolonged and paralysing heatwave. It said this highlighted the urgent need for the State to take climate change seriously, particularly its impact on the working class. Street vendors, who were struggling to earn their livelihood under extreme heat conditions, became victims of sudden and intense rains and the resulting disaster.
The Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha stressed that there was an urgent need for an in depth discussion on climate change and measures to address its debilitating impact on the working class, especially the unorganised workforce including street vendors, gig and platform workers, construction workers, street sweepers and rural labourers.
It demanded that the government immediately initiate consultations with workers’ unions on how to combat the impact of climate change on workers’ lives and livelihoods.
