CHENNAI: A 21-year-old worker at the Chennai Silks demolition site died on Saturday when a portion of the building’s basement roof caved in and an earth mover collapsed into it along with the worker.
Sarath Kumar, a native of Krishnagiri, was pulled out of the debris and was rushed to hospital. But, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
“He was checking a leakage in the machine by standing over it and fixing it when the machine moved into the crater in front of it and toppled into it. He was crushed under the weight of the same machine. We stepped in and pulled him out and sent him to hospital in an ambulance,” Selvaraj, a fire officer at the spot, told Express.
On Saturday afternoon, earth movers were involved in piling debris on the spot so that the jaw-cutters could climb over the heap and reach the height of the building.
“Minor fires kept erupting at the basement causing leaks and pressure differences. We did not have a building plan with us and so we didn’t expect the floor to cave in there,” said Peer Mohammed from Parveen Traders, the company engaged in demolition work.
Sarath Kumar’s body was kept in the Government Royapettah Hospital after conducting autopsy. “His parents are yet to reach the city only after which the post-mortem will be conducted,” a police official said in the evening.
Another worker person Govindan also sustained injures and is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Selvaraj said all safety measures were in place during the building demolition works.
“An ambulance is stationed near the site, around 100 men were working at the site when the incident was reported and 50 fire and rescue services personnel were stationed when the demolition work was on,” said Selvaraj.
Meanwhile, Ravindran, general manager of Chennai Silks, issued a statement expressing condolence to the bereaved family. The company would pay Rs 5 lakh to deceased Sarath Kumar’s family. “All our labourers also have insurance. His family will also be given that amount,” said Peer Mohammed.