A construction worker was crushed to death when a six-foot wall he was bringing down collapsed on him inside an apartment complex on Santhome Road on Monday morning. Two of his co-workers escaped unhurt.
The accident took place around 11.15 a.m. when Venkatesan (40), Ramar (53) and Kamaraj (39), all residents of Pushpa Nagar in Nungambakkam, were demolishing a thick compound wall behind an apartment complex, which houses a branch of a nationalised bank and an ATM on the ground floor. A burglary attempt had been foiled at the bank on January 5.
“Following the burglary, the owner of the apartment complex decided to raise the height of the compound wall by demolishing the existing wall and constructing a new one. The three workers began their job on Monday morning,” said an investigating officer.
ADVERTISEMENT
When the trio were breaking down the bottom portion, the wall suddenly collapsed and Venkatesan was trapped under the debris. Ramar and Kamaraj attempted to rescue him but could not move the debris. The two ran for help nearby and then, approached the fire department.
A team of firemen from the Teynampet fire station removed the debris only to find the crushed dead body of Venkatesan. Mylapore police arrested Ramar and Kamaraj after booking them under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence).