A family of three, including an 18-month-old girl baby, were killed when the roof of their 70-year-old house collapsed at Mattakadai in the small hours of Monday.
Police said G. Thangavel (38) of Muthusamy Street in Mattakadai under Tuticorin North Police Station, who owned a soda manufacturing unit in the same area, was living with his wife Rajalakshmi (35) and his adopted child Janani in the house. His mother G. Lakshmi (70) and his mentally-retarded sister G. Muthu (40) were sharing the first floor.
A portion of the first floor roof collapsed around 5 a.m. on Monday. Ms. Lakshmi and Ms. Muthu, who were sleeping in another portion of the first floor, escaped unhurt.
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On getting information, the police and fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot. Superintendent of Police Ashwin M. Kotnis and ASP Arun Sakthikumar, who reached the spot with around 50 police personnel, expedited the rescue operation.
District Collector M. Ravikumar, Corporation Commissioner S. Madhumathi and Tuticorin MLA S.T. Chellapandian visited the spot and met the relatives of the deceased.