Nine dead, several injured as arch collapses at Chennai's thermal power station

Nine workers were killed and five others injured in a major accident at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station construction site in Ennore on Tuesday.

According to preliminary reports, an arch being constructed collapsed from nearly 30 feet, trapping several migrant workers. While one worker sustained grievous injuries, more than ten were reported to be seriously hurt. The injured were rushed to Stanley Government Hospital in North Chennai.

Dr J Radhakrishnan, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, and Chairman of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO), visited Stanley Government Hospital to meet the injured workers and assess the



situation.

The Avadi Police Commissionerate said the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be ascertained. Rescue operations are underway, and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

In another incident from February this year, during the demolition of Madurai’s iconic arch at Mattuthavani Bus Stand, an earthmover operator was killed and the contractor severely injured.

The arch, built in 1981 during MG Ramachandran’s rule to commemorate the 5th World Tamil Conference, had become an obstruction due to road expansion. As demolition began, a pillar collapsed, crushing the driver. The injured contractor was treated at Government Rajaji Hospital.