GCDA orders probe into stadium accident; suspends engineer

GCDA orders inquiry into Uma Thomas injury at mass dance event, suspends stadium engineer, and faces Youth Congress protests.

Amid the controversy over its decision to allot the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor for a mass dance event, during which Uma Thomas, MLA, had a horrific fall leaving her seriously injured, the executive meeting of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

GCDA secretary Indu Vijayanath has been asked to conduct a comprehensive probe and submit a report within 15 days. The event attended by over 12,000 dancers was organised by Mridanga Vision on December 29.

The executive committee meeting also decided to suspend S.S. Usha, the assistant executive engineer in charge of the stadium, pending inquiry. Legal action will be taken against the organisers for the alleged lapses.

The meeting also declared that the stadium would continue to be allotted for non-sporting events in the future, with measures in place to protect the turf. It was noted that the stadium had been used for similar events in the past.

When questioned about the decision to allot the stadium for the dance event despite the dissent note from the GCDA’s estate superintendent, Chairman K. Chandran Pillai stated that the authority was not obligated to always follow what the officers say.

The executive meeting began tumultuously as Youth Congress activists stormed the hall, demanding Chairman K. Chandran Pillai’s resignation for his role in the accident that severely injured Ms. Thomas. The Youth Congress Ernakulam district committee called for the prosecution and dismissal of the responsible officials. Activists also laid siege to Mr. Pillai, along with MLAs P.V. Sreenijin and K.J. Maxy, before police intervened and removed them from the hall.