A 68-year-old woman died after bricks from a construction site fell on her head when she was standing outside her house in Nungambakkam on Saturday afternoon. A relative of the woman sustained injuries in the accident.
The labourers working at the site adjacent to the victim, Dhanabagyam’s house were constructing a wall on the first floor when the bricks fell on the asbestos roof of the woman’s house and then fell on her head. Neighbours rushed her to a private hospital where she was declared ‘brought dead’.
Her nephew, Babu, also sustained injuries. A resident of the same street, he had brought food for her on Saturday. “The two were talking to each other when the bricks fell down. Babu sustained injuries on his head and legs. Babu used to help Dhanabagyam as she was old and infirm,” said Jayakumar, the victim’s son-in-law.
Neighbours and relatives of the victims said the labourers fled the spot immediately after the accident.
“One-and-a-half-years ago, a private firm started constructing the building a few feet away from the entrance of her house. They did not follow any safety measures and we have been complaining to them about the risk it poses to children in the locality,” said Mr. Jayakumar.
The Nungambakkam police have registered a case and are investigating.
