CHENNAI: A worker engaged in constructing underground sewage line at Sholinganallur died on Friday when earth caved in on him when he was inside the over 15 feet deep pit. Another worker escaped and was brought out after a five-hour long operation by firemen.
The workers M Subramani (55) and P Subramani(42), both hailing from Tiruvannamalai district, were working on the construction of underground sewerage at New Kumaran Nagar for the past several weeks. Metrowater had contracted the project to a private company.
According to locals, both of them were trying to remove the planks kept on the sides of the pit around 10 am when earth from one side of the pit collapsed and crushed them beneath.
“I heard them crying for help and I entered the place. But I got afraid and came out. Then I immediately called the police, fire services and ambulance,” said Namaram, a local resident.
The firemen reached the spot around 10.15 am, but the rescue operation was not simple. Four emergency response teams from fire stations at Guindy, Sholinganallur, Tambaram and Thorapakkam struggled for hours and could bring out the two workers only around 2 pm. However, M Subramani had already died and the other was taken to a hospital.
“Using the earth mover, earth was dug from one side completely to bring out the trapped workers. But suddenly the earth on the other side collapsed and fell on the workers,” said a local resident who was at the spot and did not wish to be identified.
Ravichandran, station fire officer, Sholinganallur, said around 25 personnel were involved in the rescue operations. When queried about the delay in the operations, he said, “There were a lot of iron and wooden planks and rods inside. If we had hurried up, we might have lost both the workers.”
“Due to poverty in his family, Subramani had been working in Chennai. Only on Thursday night he returned to Chennai after visiting home.
He was a construction worker earlier,” said Robert, a family friend of the deceased Subramani. Subramani’s son is working in the city as a security guard.
Usually after the work at the construction site is completed, machines are used to remove the planks on the sides. However, it was not clear why workers were engaged in removing them.
The body has been kept in Government Hospital, Royapettah. P Subramani is being treated in a private hospital at Sholinganallur.
Meanwhile, a Metrowater spokesperson said the worker’s family should be compensated only by the contractor.