New Delhi: Recently, the collapse of a multi-story building in Delhi caused an outcry and claimed several lives. Amid this, similar news has emerged from Tamil Nadu, and last night in Vellore, the roof of a church under construction collapsed, killing three labourers. Eleven people are reported injured in this tragic incident.
Those trapped under the debris have been rescued and sent to the hospital. The accident occurred when the slab collapsed while concrete was being poured onto the church roof. Administrative teams rushed to the site immediately upon receiving news of the accident. Fire brigade and NDRF teams carried out rescue operations, and all those trapped under the debris have been extricated.
All Injured Admitted to Hospital
According to an administrative official, the roof of a church under construction in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district collapsed suddenly on Thursday night. Three labourers died in this horrific accident, while 11 others were injured. The 11 injured labourers were taken by ambulance to Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital, and a hospital in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The condition of some remains critical.
Incident Caused by Slab Collapse
A local police official stated that the incident occurred due to the collapse of the roof slab of the ‘Church of South India’ building under construction at Mandi Krishnapuram, near Katpadi. Labourers were pouring concrete for the roof when the slab suddenly collapsed, trapping them beneath the debris.
Officials confirmed the deaths of three labourers. They stated that a 20-foot-high steel scaffolding and support framework suddenly collapsed, trapping the labourers under heavy concrete debris, bricks, and stones.
Condition of 8 labourers improving
Panic ensued as soon as news of the roof collapse spread. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), based in Arakkonam, arrived at the construction site alongside personnel from the district administration, police, and fire services, and began rescue operations for the trapped workers. On Thursday evening, Vellore District Collector P.S. Leela Alex, who was coordinating the rescue effort at the site, informed reporters that the condition of at least eight workers had improved.
Additionally, in response to a question, she stated that the administration would constitute a committee to investigate the incident. The inquiry will seek to determine why the building’s structure collapsed and whether the builder had obtained all necessary approvals and building permits for the church’s construction. For context, just a few days ago, a five-story building collapsed in an area of Delhi. Seven people lost their lives in that incident.
