Chennai building collapse: 1 killed, 8 injured and 50 others feared trapped
Chennai: One person was killed, 8 injured and several others are feared trapped after an under construction 11-storeyed building collapsed near suburban Porur on Saturday and rescue efforts were on by multiple agencies, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
City Police Commissioner S George, who visited the spot, said a man was killed in the collapse at Moulivakkam in the western suburb, about 20 km from here, as rains lashed the area and several other parts of the city this evening.
Rescue officials at the spot said that five persons had been rescued with injuries and they have been referred to a nearby private hospital.
Fire and Rescue Services Joint Director S Vijayasekar earlier said according to eyewitnesses there were about 50 construction workers at the site at the time of the collapse.
Mangadu (Chennai): Under construction building collapses, Rescue work underway pic.twitter.com/tCvDeEjQut
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2014Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that on her directives, NDRF teams had rushed from neighbouring Arakkonam even as multi-agency relief operations involving were on in full swing.
Rescue work is going on,fire service officers, NDRF teams are on the job- S George, Police commissioner on Chennai building collapse
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2014In a statement here, she said she ordered officials to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for the incident.
Jayalalithaa said she had ordered best medical treatment to the injured and deputed Minister for Animal Husbandry T K M Chinnaiah to the spot besides directing senior officials to take stock of the situation.
She said special lighting arrangements had been made to ensure unhindered rescue operations through the night.
"I have ordered police officials to take legal action against those responsible for the incident," she said.
Besides, she has also ordered for supply of rescue equipment from Chennai Metro Rail Limited, City Corporation and High ways departments.
Twelve fire tenders and more than 100 personnel were involved in the rescue work.
Meanwhile, building firm Prime Sristi, which has taken up the residential project, claimed the incident occurred due to the impact of thunder.
Around45-50laborers are trapped,7 ppl rescued,1dead body recovered,10 ppl have been located-S George,Pol Commissioner pic.twitter.com/aVGx2sRvde
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2014"Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from thunder strike. It was nearing completion," Balaguru, Director, Prime Sristi, said.
He said about 50 workers were inside the building during the mishap and there was a heavy downpour at that time.
The mishap resulted in heavy traffic jam in the area. Police said they had made special arrangements for the ambulances to carry the injured to a nearby private hospital swiftly.
