Four killed as building collapses

Coimbatore: Four people, including two women, died after a two-storey apartment collapsed at KC Thottam near Chetti Street in the city on Sunday night following incessant rain.
The deceased were identified as Swetha alias Shalini, 25, her neighbour K Gopalsamy, 72, his wife Kasthuri, 65, and their son Manikandan, 42.
Fire personnel rescued G Vanaja, 65, her grandson Dhanveer, 5, her son-in-law Manojkumar, 47, and her neighbour Manikandan, 42, and two others from the debris and admitted them to CMCH. Manikandan, however, died without responding to treatment on Monday night at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital.
Officials said heavy rain was the prime reason due to which the two storey building caved in leading to the deaths. The house was owned by Vanaja, who lived with her family on the first floor. Swetha, one of the deceased, was her daughter-in-law.
A major portion of the building fell on a tiled house located next to the building where Gopalsamy, his wife Kasthuri and his son Manikandan were living. The aged couple died instantly while their son passed away at the CMCH.
Officials said the search operation to retrieve the bodies lasted for 20 hours. The locality is within a containment zone with many Covid-19 cases.
Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each to the family members of the deceased.
Meanwhile, collector K Rajamani instructed building owners to demolish dilapidated and abandoned buildings to check such incidents. “Dilapidated structures in corporation, municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats should be demolished immediately. Revenue and local body officials should collect details of such buildings. Those who fail to remove such structures will face severe action,” a press release said. “Dilapidated government buildings will also be demolished.”