Portion of concrete ceiling of Tower C at Chander Kunj apartments collapses

A large chunk of concrete from the roof, along with the false ceiling in the ground-floor lobby of Tower C at Chander Kunj Army Apartments in Vyttila collapsed with a thud in the early hours of Saturday (October 25, 2025) further underscoring the danger posed by the unsafe structure.

Towers B and C of the apartment complex are scheduled for demolition and reconstruction following an order by the Kerala High Court. All 208 apartment owners, except Ciby George, who resides on the first floor of Tower C, have vacated the premises after receiving advance rent payments from the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO). Mr. George has chosen to remain, citing non-receipt of the payment.

“We heard a loud noise, likely in the early hours of Saturday. The roof collapsed in the common area of the lobby and could have proved fatal had anyone been underneath. It only reaffirms how unsafe the structure is,” said Mr. George.

AWHO had credited six months’ advance rent—₹2.97 crore, calculated at ₹30,000 per month for Tower B owners and ₹35,000 per month for Tower C owners—into an escrow account, as directed by the High Court, after which the owners moved out. The apartment owners had refused to vacate until AWHO paid the advance rent, which had delayed the original evacuation deadline of August 31.

District Disaster Management Authorities confirmed that they were aware of the incident and urged the lone occupant to vacate the apartment immediately on safety grounds. A fresh notice will be issued to him.

Reportedly, Mr. George is the only resident yet to receive payment, while a few others, who were either not residing in the apartments or had rented them out, also remain unpaid. Mr. George alleged that he had been singled out for being outspoken and highlighting the deteriorating condition of the towers.

At a district committee meeting chaired by District Collector G. Priyanka on October 14, AWHO was directed to release Mr. George’s rent without delay, followed by an official notice. Reportedly, AWHO authorities stated that his payment, along with those of a few others, is currently under process.

While Tower A is considered structurally sound, its proximity to the unsafe Towers B and C poses a risk to its residents. Shared common areas near the other two towers are still in use, while the children’s park is adjacent to Tower C, and residents continue to take morning and evening walks around the crumbling towers.