Jaya seeks compensation for house collapse victims

Chennai, Oct 20 (UNI) Condoling the death of 13 persons in yesterday's house collapse at Ukkadam in Coimbatore district, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa today demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government carry out relief operations on a 'war-footing' and provide adequate compensation to the families of the victims.

''The government should also provide alternative residential facilities to those residing there,'' she said in a statement here.

She alleged that despite the residents' repeated pleas about the dilapidated condition of the building, officials did not bother to help the needful.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko urged the authorities to evacuate people from buildings of similar condition in various parts of the city like Sithapudur, Race Course, Thomas Park, Singanallur and Uppilipalayam, where evacuation notices were already issued.

Thirteen people, including three women and a baby, were crushed to death and 15 others injured when a four-storeyed dilapidated apartment of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board collapsed last evening, following heavy rain.

UNI