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Roof Collapse Sparks Rescue Operation in Tamil Nadu, NDRF Joins Efforts to Save Trapped Workers
Vellore, Tamil Nadu : A routine construction operation turned into a horrific tragedy in Tamil Nadu after a massive section of an under-construction church suddenly collapsed, trapping workers beneath tonnes of concrete, bricks and debris and leaving three labourers dead and 11 others injured.
The accident occurred late Thursday night at an under-construction Church of South India in Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi in Vellore district, where workers were reportedly engaged in concrete-laying work on the roof when the slab and supporting structure suddenly gave way. A roughly 20-foot-high steel scaffolding and support framework reportedly collapsed under the construction load, bringing down the structure and trapping several workers underneath.
The sudden collapse triggered panic at the site, with workers caught beneath heavy concrete and construction material. Police, fire and rescue personnel and district administration officials immediately rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident, while an NDRF team from Arakkonam also joined the rescue operation to locate and pull out workers trapped beneath the debris.
Three workers were ultimately found dead, while 11 others sustained injuries and were rushed by ambulance to multiple hospitals, including Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Officials said at least eight of the injured workers were in stable condition. The devastating incident has also raised serious questions about construction safety and structural stability, with authorities expected to examine why the scaffolding and roof structure collapsed while concrete work was underway.
Investigators are also expected to verify whether the construction had all required approvals and building permits and whether adequate safety measures were in place at the site. The district administration has indicated that an inquiry will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the collapse and establish whether any safety lapses or construction-related violations contributed to the tragedy.
As rescue teams worked through the wreckage, the incident once again highlighted the dangers faced by construction workers when structural and workplace safety measures fail at active building sites.
