One person was killed and several others were injured as a shed of a hospital under construction collapsed near Taramani in Chennai on July 21 night. All those who were hurt and trapped under the debris, including three who suffered head injuries, were rescued. At least 28 persons have been admitted in hospitals for treatment. While 12 of the injured were sent to the Government Hospital at Royapettah, the others are being treated at a private hospital on OMR.
Those rescued said that 50 of them, mostly migrant workers, were on the site and many of them ran away as the shed started collapsing.
Confusion mars rescue efforts at site
As officials went about trying to rescue all those who were trapped under the debris of a shed that collapsed at a construction site in Taramani, they were initially hamstrung by lack of information on how many workers were actually employed at the site.
Launching the rescue operations, Kancheepuram Collector P. Ponnaiah said, “We have rescued 17 workers so far; we are not sure if others are still trapped below the debris or not.”
Branch of a hospital
According to sources, a Coimbatore-based hospital was building a branch at Kandanchavadi and construction was in full swing. Around 7 p.m. on Saturday, the shed — reportedly built with iron girders and minimum concrete — collapsed, trapping the workers, mostly migrant labourers, who were doing the night shift.
“There were 50 of us. Many ran away as the structure fell,” said Sagar Yadav of Uttar Pradesh. Vicky Kumar, 19, of Jabalpur also said 50 of them were there. Both were in a state of shock as they were brought to the Royapettah GH.
Police and fire and rescue services personnel (four fire tenders were deployed for the operation) who arrived at the spot had a tough time as the site had no electricity. As ambulances started arriving one by one, two earth movers were also pressed into service to remove the debris and search for workers who could have been trapped.
Ten of the injured were sent to the Government Hospital at Royapettah. The others are being treated at a private hospital on OMR.
Rescue work is under way at the site of a building collapse at Taramani in Chennai on July 21, 2018. | Photo Credit: Shaju John
No word on approvals
Mr. Ponnaiah who was supervising the rescue effort, disclosed neither the name of the hospital nor the name of the builder. He also did not say whether necessary approvals had been obtained.
V. Babu, a businessman who supplies watercans and who stays five feet away from the accident site, said that he heard a deafening noise and rushed out of his house. “The power supply was cut and I could hear people screaming. A few migrant labourers were trapped under the debris. Many residents including me pulled out the labourers whom we could see and brought them to safety,” he added.
Mohan, an autorickhsaw driver, who was sitting in his vehicle, was also injured after the debris fell on his vehicle. “He sustained injuries on his back,” added Mr. Babu.
Later in the night, the NDRF and the SDRF arrived with specialised cutting and rescue equipment.
The police said that they would be registering a case.
(With inputs from Aloysius Xavier Lopez and Serena Josephine M.)
Details of 12 persons admitted at Government Hospital Royapettah
1. Rajesh Kumar (20)
2. Arun (17)
3. Vicky Kumar (19)
4. Vinu Kumar (20)
5. Aman Kumar (18)
6. Sonu Kumar (17)
7. Bharat Kumar (20)
8. Raj Narayan (32)
9. Mukesh Yadav (31)
10. Sunil Kumar (18)
11. Ranjan Kumar (20)
12. Mandhan (20)