In a startling revelation, the 11-storey building that collapsed at Moulivakkam on June 28 was constructed in deviation of the plan approved by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the Special Investigation Team of the Chennai Police has said.
According SIT sources, the site engineers had removed crucial pillars in the basement supporting the structure to make way for a larger parking lot. This was found to be one of the prime causes for the collapse.
The SIT was constituted on July 6 by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to investigate the tragedy that left 61 persons dead and 27 injured. The investigators working under the supervision of Police Commissioner S. George had roped in expertise from the IIT Madras, Anna University and the Public Works Department. They recorded the statements of witnesses after meeting survivors of the tragedy from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Soil tests and inspection of construction materials were also conducted.
The probe, carried out for 50 days, compiled over 10 key findings.
It was found that the density of the concrete used was unsatisfactory, steel samples recovered from the debris were of substandard quality, the bearing capacity of soil was inadequate and the overall structural stability was precarious. It also came to light that some persons employed as engineers were not qualified, police sources revealed.
The Mangadu police had registered a case. The SIT probe was based on the FIR on the accident, in which eight persons, including the building owner Manoharan, his son Muthu Kamakshi, structural engineer Venkatasubramaniam and engineers Durai Singam and Shankar were arrested.
