Chennai building collapse: TN CM Jayalaithaa visits site as toll reaches 11; 5 held

, June 29: A day after a building collapsed in Mugalivakkam near Porur, the

Chief Minister J

visited the site on Sunday, where the mishap took place.

After visiting the building collapse site, Jayalaithaa told media persons that the builder violated various norms.

She also said that building collapsed due to structural defect.

Earlier in the day, Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs two lakh for the families of those killed in the building collapse near here and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

"I'm shocked to know that ten persons have lost their lives. I extend my deep condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones," she said in a statement.

She also ordered the district administration in Kancheepuram to ensure medical treatment to the injured and arrange for their safe return back home on government expenses. The Chief Minister also wished that the injured get well soon.

Death toll reaches 11; 5 arrested

Eleven bodies have been recovered so far as massive rescue operations continued at the building collapse site even as police said they have arrested five persons in connection with the tragedy.

Several persons are still believed to be trapped under the debris and hundreds of personnel are engaged in clearing the rubble as part of the rescue effort.

Two alleged owners of the building were arrested this morning along with two engineers as police rounded up five persons in connection with the incident and booked them under various sections of IPC.

Two women, identified as Sujata and Krishnaveni, were this morning pulled out from under the debris, taking the number of those rescued to 30 so far, police said.

Over 100 personnel from Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services along with 120 others from National Disaster Reponse Force are taking part in rescue operations at the site of the tragedy, which is being described as the largest building accident in the recent past in Chennai.

"Rescue operations are on in full swing. Our priority is to locate survivors. We are using modern cameras to locate them and are watching closely for any voices from within the debris," said NDRF DIG SP Selvan.

Sniffer dogs, too, have been brought in to locate persons trapped in the rubble. Officials are speaking to those who have been rescued to gather information about the number of people who were in the building when the mishap struck at around 5 P.M. Yesterday.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa visits site where an under-construction building collapsed yesterday pic.twitter.com/XATZLmyYyc

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014

Appears that building plans weren't adhered to by builders: Jayalalithaa on building collapse in Chennai pic.twitter.com/QfO4SjD1Yb

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014

Too early to say what went wrong but appears to be a structural defect: Jayalalithaa on building collapse in Chennai pic.twitter.com/iQWZ2wpfaN

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014

So far 31 ppl have been recovered, 11 are no more & 20 are receiving medical care in hospital: Jayalalithaa on building collapse in Chennai

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014

Rescue operations are underway without respite: Jayalalithaa on building collapse in Chennai

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 29, 2014

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)