The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered a probe into the incident in which rainwater and toilet water leaking into the P&T Apartments at Mundamveli have taken a toll on the school attendance of children living there.

Commission chairperson Alexander Thomas sought a report from the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). The apartment complex houses around 65 schoolchildren. According to residents, schoolbags and books have been repeatedly soaked due to the leakage, which began two years ago. The probe was ordered on a petition filed by activist Thampy Subramanyam.

Seventy-eight families were shifted to the twin towers from an erstwhile colony in the heart of the city in January 2024. However, the apartments began leaking during the first showers in February that year. Residents have now been on an indefinite stir for nearly 50 days, demanding rehabilitation in new structures.

The plight of students came to light after K.P. Priya, headmistress of SDPY Boys’ High School, Palluruthy, visited the apartment complex following the prolonged absence of an eighth-standard student. The boy had missed classes for nearly a fortnight at the start of the academic year in June. He returned after school authorities reprimanded his father for not sending him to class, only to stop attending again when the rains intensified.

“While he returned and wrote his exams, he has been absent ever since. That’s why I and his class teacher visited his home. We were shocked to find the unhygienic conditions in which he was living. We spoke to the residents’ association office-bearers and the councillor of the division concerned about the matter,” said Ms. Priya.

Since then, the P&T Apartment Owners Association has identified five students from various schools who have been missing classes for the same reason. “We visited the schools concerned and requested that the students be allowed to attend classes on submitting leave applications. Children are going through psychological trauma and anxiety because of their leaking apartments, as they are neither able to study, eat, nor even sit indoors when it rains,” said Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of the association.

K.J. Prakashan, councillor of Mundamveli East, placed the responsibility squarely on the GCDA. “GCDA is accountable for any issues reported within five years of the construction of the apartments,” he said.

The GCDA, which constructed the towers, has submitted rectification measures for the faulty structures, as recommended by IIT Madras, to the State government for approval. “The original recommendations were worth around ₹16 crore, which exceeded the cost of construction. After negotiations, the estimate was brought down to about ₹6.50 crore, which was still on the higher side,” said GCDA sources. The towers were constructed at a cost of ₹15 crore, jointly funded under PMAY, Life Mission and Cochin Smart Mission Limited.