Pathanamthitta: A total of 93 buildings in the district have been identified for immediate demolition or urgent restoration. This includes 56 school buildings and 37 hospital buildings that currently lack fitness certificates.

However, not all of these structures are in active use. Among them, 17 school buildings have been marked for urgent demolition. Authorities have clarified that no classes are being held in any of these unsafe structures.

At a recent meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, it was estimated that nearly 2,000 buildings across the state either need to be demolished or undergo major repairs. To address the issue more effectively, another detailed survey will be carried out with the support of the Disaster Management Authority and the Local Self-Government Department.

For years, some old buildings in use have been issued temporary fitness certificates until new structures are constructed. However, concerns have been raised after incidents such as one at Aranmula Vocational Higher Secondary School, where a building that had been issued a fitness certificate was declared unsafe just two months later during a follow-up inspection.

Several sections of the Mini Civil Station in Pathanamthitta, built in 1990, are now in a dangerous condition, with parts of the ceiling collapsing in many offices. The delay in addressing the issue even prompted the Youth Congress to stage a protest, symbolically distributing helmets to civil station staff.