Chennai: Woman dies after tree crashes on auto

CHENNAI: A 65-year-old woman died and a 10-year-old girl and her mother were injured after a tree crashed on the autorickshaw they were riding in on 13th main road in Anna Nagar on Friday. A city corporation contractor was carrying out storm water drain work on the road and had chopped the roots of the tree on one side. Another auto, too, got trapped under the tree; both the drivers escaped with minor injuries.
The contractor, Sri Sivaraman and Co, had completed earth excavation work on Thursday evening and had completed drain work for 20metres. But neither were barricades placed nor traffic was diverted on the stretch to warn road-users.
Corporation executive engineer Victor told TOI that the tree got uprooted after the brick work of the old drain collapsed.
While Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital police said Anandalakshmi was brought dead, hospital dean P Vasanthamani said Bhuvaneshwari, 40, “suffered mild injuries.” Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said, “I’ve initiated criminal action against the contractors and assistant executive engineer Anandaraj will be suspended tomorrow.” Kathiresan, manager of Sri Sivaraman and Co, said the two auto drivers did not suffer any injury.
The 10-year old also escaped. But Anandalakshmi was brought dead and her 40-year-old daughter suffered serious injury in her hip.
Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital dean P Vasanthamani said the deceased woman’s daughter, Bhuvaneshwari, didn’t have any major injuries. “She suffered mild aberrations and she is out of danger.” According to L Nandakumar, chief engineer, storm water drains, Greater Chennai, the contractor of the Rs 1-crore project had dug the drain to a length of 530 metres.
S Srinivasan, an eyewitness said, “They should have either cordoned off the traffic or placed barricades and warned people. They just chop off tree roots for laying storm water drains which weakens the trees.”
“In May, 2019, S Surenthar, a 24-year-old fell into a pit that was dug up by contractor KCP engineers. As per the police complaint, Surenthar had sought action against the contractor but the police refused to even file an FIR,” said Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam. In May, TOI had reported how a 23-year-old man escaped with minor injuries after a lamp post fell on him. This was also due to storm water drain work. The techie was identified as Shiva Kumar Rajendran, who was on his two-wheeler. The incident took place at Muthamizh nagar in Kodangaiyur.