The Chennai police have arrested two persons in connection with the collapse of a hospital under construction in the Taramani area on Saturday evening. They have identified the construction company involved and are further investigating the chain of authority at the site in order to take others into police custody for enquiries.
One person died and 32 others were injured after the scaffolding of the building in Kandanchavadi collapsed. The rescue operations are still underway to clear the debris at the site. Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar had on Saturday told TNM that more than 20 people were working at the site and that strict action would be taken against the construction company that is building the hospital. He also said that such accidents occurred when the company and the workers don’t follow the safety precautions mandated by the authorities.
The police have filed an FIR and booked the site supervisor and building manager under sections 335 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others).
“The building belonged to URS Constructions from what we have found so far,” revealed a top cop investigating the case.
The building is an upcoming hospital on MGR Salai, across from SP Infocity. While the structure of the building remains unscathed, it is the scaffolding and the iron girders of the generator room that caved in and caused the tragedy.
“We will bring others into custody after we learn the chain of command and exactly who is responsible for the crime,” the officer added.
The injured have been admitted at Apollo Hospital and the Royapettah Government Hospital. The body of the dead man, Babloo who hailed from Bihar, was recovered late on Saturday night.
Speaking to TNM, Rajendra Ratnoo, Commissioner, Disaster Management, Tamil Nadu, said, “To ensure that there is nobody else trapped inside the debris, we are clearing it out. Our teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and the District Collector and I are at the accident site since last night and monitoring the rescue operations. We are awaiting bigger cranes and gas cutters to get through the debris and will clear it out soon.”
Rajendra Ratnoo also said that there are minor damages to four other buildings due to this incident and that two autorickshaws were also damaged in the incident.