Guest worker dies after iron staircase collapses at Nandambakkam

Times News Network

Chennai: A guest worker died and 48 others were injured after the landing of an iron staircase collapsed at a workers’ accommodation facility in Nandambakkam late on Sunday night, when hundreds of workers gathered on the structure to watch and celebrate the IPL final. They fell from a height of nearly 15ft.

Hundreds of guest workers employed by a private construction company were staying in makeshift housing structures built with metal sheets. in Shanti Nagar, Nandambakkam. As Sunday was a holiday, many of them gathered on the building’s iron staircases and landing area, watching the live cricket match on mobile phones and portable devices.

According to reports, more than 100 workers crowded onto a section of the landing area. The structure collapsed due to the excessive load. As a result, over 40 workers fell from a height of around 15ft, landing on top of one another and sustaining serious injuries.

Local residents and fellow workers took up rescue efforts and alerted the Nandambakkam police. They shifted the 26 injured workers to the Government Kalaignar Centenary Hospital in Guindy and another 22 workers to Ramachandra Medical Centre in Porur for treatment.

One critically injured worker, identified as Brinji Manjhi , 31, from Jharkhand, was admitted to the Government Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Monday. Hospital sources said the remaining injured workers are out of danger.

Nandambakkam police have registered a case and are investigating.