Two workers were killed when a lift that was being dismantled came crashing down from the six floor of the old MLA Hostel in Omanthurar Estate at Chepauk on Sunday.
The old hostel, which was opened in 1968, is being demolished. The contract to dismantle six lifts in the six-storey building was given to a Chennai-based contractor, who, in turn, employed six persons from Kerala for the work. According to Government Estate police, three workers, Joji Philip (20), Jineesh Mon (21), both from Kottayam district and Tom (24) from Idukki district, reported for work at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday.
“We attached a pulley with an iron chain to a lift, which was on the sixth floor, and were trying to lower it to the ground. Joji was sitting atop the lift car, Tom was inside and I was in the lift room outside. All three of us were bringing the lift down when the chain suddenly slipped out of our hands. The lift car crashed with Joji and Tom, who shouted for help,” Jineesh told The Hindu .
Jineesh rushed to the ground floor to find the lift car badly damaged and his co-workers trapped. The two men sustained severe injures on their head and body and died soon after.
The two victims were not wearing any safety equipment, including harnesses and helmets provided by their employer, police sources said.
Police have registered a case under Section 304 A (Causing death by negligence) of the IPC and are questioning the contractor.
