One construction worker was crushed to death and seven others injured when a portion of an under-construction three-storey House collapsed at Kamatchi Nagar locality at the sub-urban Sellur, here today. Police said the unauthorized construction had been going on for the last few days, despite of a notice issued by the Madurai City Corporation three months ago, after it found the construction was going on without proper building plan approval.
The mishap occurred when a group of construction labourers were engaged in building the third floor. A portion of the building suddenly collapsed. Two labourers were trapped underneath while the remaining persons escaped with injuries.
Within hours after the collapse, personnel of Tamilnadu Fire and Rescue Services department rushed to the locality and rescued one person live, while another one was reportedly dead. The injured were admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital, here. Meanwhile, City Corporation Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa visited the site and said the owner one Thavasi had been adding two more floors of the existing building without getting approval from the civic authorities. A notice was already issued to the owner to stop the work, but despite of it he had constructed the building illegally. The building couldn’t bear the weight of the additional two floors due to weak foundation.
He said the civic administration has ordered enumeration of unauthorized constructions in the city to take suitable action and prevent recurrence of such mishaps. Meanwhile, police spread a dragnet for the of the building.
—UNI