One person was killed and 12 others were injured after an under-construction portion of a school building collapsed near Brammapuram in Vellore on Thursday.
An injured worker said they were working on the roof of the portico when the structure gave in. The incident occurred around 3.30 p.m.
This was the new campus of Pincushion Montessori International School, which is presently functioning at Gandhi Nagar.
As the workers engaged in other parts of the building rushed to rescue those trapped in the collapsed structure, the Fire and Rescue Services of Katpadi and Vellore joined the rescue efforts at about 4 p.m. The workers rescued at least eight persons, who were trapped under the debris.
A total of 13 persons were rescued and sent to various hospitals in the city – three to Christian Medical College Hospital (CMC), three to Kumaran Hospital and seven to the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital. Bakiaraj (45), a resident of 66 Pudur, who was admitted to CMC, died of injuries.
Fifty-year-old Ravi, a mason, who was rescued and admitted to a hospital with injuries, said about 15 of them were working on the roof of the portico on Thursday afternoon when they came crashing down. “This was a high-roof portico, about 20 feet high. We were laying the concrete on the roof. Only an hour of work was left when the structure collapsed,” he recalled.
An eyewitness, who was involved in mixing concrete for the roof work, said the structure collapsed on one side trapping the workers. An electrician said that he, along with several others, pulled out eight persons from the debris.
Too critical
Collector S.A. Raman, who rushed to the spot, said the condition of two more workers admitted to CMC was critical.
P. Pakalavan, Superintendent of Police, joined the rescue work. Four earthmovers and a crane were engaged in the rescue operation. Six vehicles of 108 ambulance service were deployed to take the injured to the hospitals, R. J. Shriraman, district manager, 108 ambulance, Vellore, said.
While rescue operations continued till nearly 7 p.m., officials said the construction work at the campus had been stopped. The police will conduct an investigation into the incident.
