PUDUCHERRY: Five persons were killed and four injured after the compound wall of an electricity substation collapsed in Puducherry town on Sunday. The incident occurred when the victims were engaged in the construction of an underground drainage, alongside the substation. Police booked the contractor and overseer under Sections 304A, 337 and 338 of the IPC.
The deceased were identified as Bakkiaraj (48), Kamal (55), Rajesh Kannan (50) and Anthony (65) from Ariyalur district and Balamurugan (38) from Cuddalore district. They were part of a team of 16 workers engaged by a contractor for the Public Works Department to renovate the drainage canal behind the Marapalam Substation under a Smart City project for the past year and a half.
Sources said the team started work early in the morning and some members left for breakfast around 8.45am. Moments later, a section of the seven-foot-tall wall collapsed, trapping the remaining workers. While residents, police and fire service personnel tried to rescue them, Bakkiaraj was fatally hurt when debris pushed him into water.
‘Ambulance delayed, transported injured to hospital in mini lorries’
Balamurugan and Anthony died on the way to the hospital while Kamal and Rajesh Kannan passed away later in the day without responding to treatment. Srinivasan (48) and Gunasekaran (52) are undergoing treatment and Jaishankar was discharged with minor injuries.
Residents, who had aided in rescue efforts, alleged that the ambulance did not arrive despite multiple calls, forcing them to transport the injured to the hospital in mini-lorries. They also raised concerns about irregular inspections by PWD officials and inadequate safety measures.
A senior PWD official said a departmental inquiry is underway, with a detailed report expected to be submitted to the district collector on Monday. Police said the contractor, Mohan of Velrampet, had been booked and an investigation is on. Dr G Sriramulu, director of Health and Family Services, Government of Puducherry, denied the allegations regarding ambulance delay. Speaking to TNIE, he said that ambulances from Ariyankuppam, Thavalakuppam, and Puducherry were dispatched to the spot. However, the rescue personnel on-site used available vehicles to transport the injured to the hospital before the ambulances arrived.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor CP Radhakrishnan visited the injured persons at the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduation Institute and consoled families of the deceased.
“It’s a tragic incident in Puducherry. Proper permissions will be sought from election officers to support the affected families and injured persons, considering the model code of conduct. Further action will be based on the inquiry’s findings to prevent such incidents in the future.” He also assured that medical assistance will be provided to the injured workers.