Chennai building collapse: 1 body recovered, 28 injured as rescue operation concludes

Chennai, July 22: One person was killed and at least 28 others were injured after a Coimbatore-based hospital collapsed in Chennai's Kandanchavadi area on Saturday night.

Mostly migrant labourers trapped

The victims, mostly migrant labourers, had night shift and were trapped in the debris after the collapse. Those who sustained severe head injuries were immediately hospitalised. There are 60 members from the fire and rescue department, 30 members from the State Disaster Response Force, two units of the National Disaster Response Force and eight ambulances.

8 ambulances along with three fire tenders rushed to spot

Eight ambulances along with three fire tenders rushed to the spot after the scaffolding of an under-construction building collapsed in Chennai on Saturday night. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams also reached the spot immediately.

Confusion mars rescue efforts at site

As officials went about trying to rescue all those who were trapped under the debris of a shed that collapsed at a construction site in Taramani, they were initially hamstrung by lack of information on how many workers were actually employed at the site.

NDRF pulls out man from debris

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team pulled a man from the debris. However, he succumbed to injuries. Sources said that some labourers could be trapped under the rubble, even as 23 people were rescued. Of the injured, three were stated to be critical after suffering head injuries. Commenting on the incident, disaster management commissioner Rajendra Ratnoo said, "It was a four-storey structure and the building near it suffered damage because of the collapse. So far, 23 people have been rescued. There are more than 60 police officers at the site.

The Tamil Nadu building collapse came hours after a two-storey building collapsed in Pune leaving several, including children, trapped on Saturday. The incident was reported from near Keshavnagar around 12.30 PM. The injured have been rushed to the hospital. As per reports, the building was 30 years old and it was served a notice by municipal corporation.