Overview
- The retaining wall at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital collapsed on April 29, 2026, during heavy rain, killing seven people and injuring seven.
- A Chief Secretary–constituted inquiry found roughly 3,600 cubic metres of soil and construction debris had been dumped behind about 22,000 sq ft of the wall, creating abnormal lateral pressure estimated at about 3,305 lb/ft.
- The report said the wall lacked a scientific rainwater drainage system and weep holes, which caused water retention that weakened the structure and magnified the effect of the dumped debris.
- The committee recommended criminal prosecution of ASR Traders and disciplinary action against four Health Department engineers and ordered immediate debris clearance, scientific reconstruction of the nearly 200‑metre wall, and upgrades to underground drainage.
- The Karnataka High Court on May 21 set aside the suspension of Executive Engineer M B Nagaraj, ruling there was no prima facie evidence against him and directing that further administrative action await the PWD technical committee reports.