Under-Construction Steel Arch Collapses At North Chennai Thermal Power Station, 9 Dead

Chennai: At least nine people were killed in a tragic incident that occurred at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station construction site, where an under-construction arch collapsed. According to reports, the incident resulted in multiple people being injured and trapped under the debris of the collapsed structure. 

The Chennai police stated that the preliminary reports indicated that apart from 9 dead, 15 other workers sustained grievous injuries, while 30 were feared stuck beneath the debris. 

The police stated that the victims have been rushed to Stanley Government Hospital in North Chennai for treatment. According to Avadi Police officials, the body of the deceased has been preserved at the mortuary of the hospital for postmortem. 

PM And CM Announce Ex-Gratia

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of each victim, expressing his deep sorrow over the deaths of the nine workers from Assam. Stalin also instructed the state electricity minister and the Chairman of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to visit the site and undertake relief work. "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that nine workers from the state of Assam lost their lives in an accident that occurred during the construction work of the power plant being carried out by BHEL company in Ennore," Stalin said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences over the death of the nine workers, announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The Prime Minister's Office wrote, "Saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured."

According to Dr J Radhakrishnan, Chairman of TANGEDCO, the workers who died in the accident were from Assam and the surrounding areas. "There was an unfortunate incident at the Ennore Thermal Power construction site where a steel arch fell and nine people died. These people were from Assam and the surrounding areas. One person is injured. BHEL officials are present at the spot," Radhakrishnan told reporters.

The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, and authorities are conducting a further probe into the matter. The construction site has been secured, and forensic and technical assessments are underway to determine the cause of the collapse.

The bodies of the deceased workers will be transported to their home state, and relief measures are being taken to support the families of the victims. The incident has raised concerns about construction safety and the need for stricter regulations to ensure worker safety.

The police are probing the incident to ascertain the exact cause. 

Further details regarding the incident are awaited.