Three killed, 16 injured in building collapse

Tirunelveli, Oct 15 (UNI) Three people, including two women, were crushed to death and 16 others injured, five of them critically, when the roof of a ration shop building collapsed at Vasudevanallur, here today.

Police sources said the tragedy occurred when a large number of people were waiting inside the old concrete building of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Ration Shop to buy kerosene.

The building, which was already in a damaged condition, was further weakened by overnight heavy rains leading to the accident, the sources added.

The injured, who were rescued by the locals from the debris, were rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital here.

While G Chellammal (55) died on the spot, P Chellathaai (42) and P Muthu Vappa (55) died on the way to the hospital.

Tenkasi Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) M Dhayalan and senior police officials visited the site.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Speaker Avudayappan visited the hospital and enquired about the conditions of the injured.

UNI GSM DS SBC BD1722