Chennai: Some of the injured were also taken to the Government General Hospital and Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.
Five sniffer dogs were brought by the rescue personnel to help locate workers buried under the heavy debris. At least 12 fire tenders and more than 200 fire service and police personnel were involved in the rescue efforts. They were assisted by teams from police commandos, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Arakonam as well as the State Disaster Response Force.
The project, ‘Trust Heights’ promoted by Madurai-based developer Prime Sristi Housing Pvt Ltd has two building complexes named ‘The Faith’ and ‘The Belief’. The first one collapsed on an adjoining two-storeyed building injuring four people inside it. The owner of the project, Manoharan and his son Muthu have been taken into custody in connection with the mishap even as preliminary reports indicated to defective soil-testing and structural faults as likely reasons for the collapse, notwithstanding the realtors’ claim that the tragedy happened because of heavy thunder.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in a statement that she had directed the police to initiate action against those responsible. “The government has made all arrangements for treatment of the injured and efforts will be on through the night to rescue the trapped persons”, the CM said.
