Around 7 pm, when four workers – Arif (23) from Uttar Pradesh, Jaarol (24) from Assam along with brothers Shayadul Haq (24) and Hayadul Haq (21) from Assam – were arranging the imported fruits at KRK cold storage at Mettupalayam near Avadi, the racks suddenly collapsed. 

On hearing the noise, people from the nearby shops alerted the fire rescue personnel. Around 35 fire service personnel from Avadi, Ambattur and Poonamallee rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. 

The police said that Shayadul Haq, Arif and Jaarol were near the entrance of the compartment and were rescued within an hour. Shayadul Haq alerted the personnel that his younger brother Hayadul was caught at the end of the compartment. 

After a secondary exit was made through the side with an earthmover, the boxes were removed manually as the rescue personnel could not find where Hayadul was stuck. Nearly 10 hours later, they heard Hayadul making noise for help around 5 am. Despite having been buried under several fruits, he was saved because the iron racks dashed on one another and he was able to find some space to squeeze himself under them, said a fire officer. 

He was rescued around 7 am and was rushed to the Poonamallee Government Hospital for treatment, as he sustained injuries in the incident. The Avadi police registered a case based on a complaint by the godown owner, Suresh. Further investigation is on.

The storage has a capacity of more than 2,700 tonnes. Apples and oranges imported from European countries were stored at a conducive atmosphere. The storage has five compartments, each with a space of 300 square feet and a capacity of 540 tonnes. A compartment is 35 feet high, with nine racks on either side, the police said.