Expert committee suggests immediate evacuation from army towers in Silversand island

KOCHI: The expert committee has ordered the evacuation of residents from two army towers on Vytilla Silversand Island, citing imminent danger. The committee, comprising PWD Building Section Executive Engineer JC, Design Section Executive Engineer V.M. Aseena, Tripunithura Municipality Asst. Executive Engineer B.R. Omprakash and GCDA Asst. Executive Engineer Y David, proposed this action.

The government will decide whether to demolish the 29-storey towers or attempt maintenance pending assessment by a team from an engineering college. There's a warning against delaying evacuation pending the decision, as the committee lacks structural inspection expertise. On Tuesday, the State Disaster Management Authority will decide based on the joint report submitted to District Collector N.S.K. Umesh.

Previous reports in December and January recommended evacuation due to severe structural weakening. The towers house 208 families, totaling about 800 individuals, including senior military personnel like recently retired Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Sarat Chand and Navy Vice Admiral M.D. Suresh.

The Army Welfare Housing Society, under Army control, handed over the towers in 2018. However, within two years, basement beams and pillars began collapsing, with subsequent expert inspections identifying the urgent need for reinforcement. Yet, little action was taken, highlighting construction flaws and corruption. Issues include falling concrete, broken tiles, cracked stairs, and crumbling granite slabs in the lift.