Chennai: Eleven bodies have been recovered so far as massive rescue operations continued at the building collapse site at Mugalivakkam near Porur and Chennai police said they have arrested five persons in connection with the tragedy.
Several persons are still believed to be trapped under the debris and hundreds of personnel are engaged in clearing the rubble as part of the rescue effort.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased while Rs 50,000 has been extended to those who have been injured in the building collapse.
Too early to say what went wrong but appears to be a structural defect: Jayalalithaa on building collapse in Chennai pic.twitter.com/iQWZ2wpfaN
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014
Roads near the building collapse site have been cleared to allow smooth conduct of rescue operations while Jayalalithaa has directed the Kancheepuram district administration to ensure medical treatment for the injured and also arrange for their safe journey back home at the government’s expense.
“It’s too early to say what went wrong but appears to be a structural defect. The building plans weren’t adhered to. Rescue operations are underway without respite," she said to the media.
“The Chennai Police Commissioner has already visited the spot. Five persons have been secured and inquiry is on into the incident,” Director General of Police K Ramanujam told reporters here after visiting the spot.
Two women, identified as Sujata and Krishnaveni, were this morning pulled out from under the debris, taking the number of
those rescued to 30 so far, police said.
Over 100 personnel from Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services along with 120 others from National Disaster Response Force are taking part in rescue operations at the site of the tragedy, which is being described as the largest building accident in the recent past in Chennai.
“Rescue operations are on in full swing. Our priority is to locate survivors. We are using modern cameras to locate them and are watching closely for any voices from within the debris,” said NDRF DIG SP Selvan.
Read: 10 feared dead, 25 still trapped as 11 storeys sink in Chennai
Sniffer dogs, too, have been brought in to locate persons trapped in the rubble. Officials are speaking to those who have been rescued to gather information about the number of people who were in the building when the mishap struck at around 5 pm on Saturday.
“Twenty-two fire tenders from Chennai and neighbouring districts like Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore and also from Tiruchirappalli have been kept ready near the site along with over 50 ambulances. Construction equipment and JCB vehicles have been rushed to the spot and have been taking part in rescue efforts since last evening,” said Kancheepuram District Collector, Baskaran.
Many of those feared trapped under the debris are believed to hail from Andhra Pradesh.
Minister of State for Heavy Industries Pon Radhakrishnan, MDMK leader Vaiko and MMK chief MH Jawahirullah, who visited
the site on Sunday morning, called for those responsible behind the incident to be brought to book. DMDK leader Vijayakant, meanwhile, issued a statement condemning the incident and sought action against those responsible.
Watch: 11- storey under construction building collapse in Chennai
