Death at Chennai Construction Site: Jayaseelan, 32, and Onlooker Feared Dead as Structure Collapses

Two people are feared dead at a construction site in Chennai, India. The incident occurred at the junction of Five Furlong Road and Velachery Main Road. The site was being developed by a private company, which had constructed two underground levels for car parking. Unfortunately, heavy rain caused the structure to collapse on Monday morning, trapping an on-site engineer named Jayaseelan, aged 32, inside a container.

The supervisor had briefly left the site but returned early in the morning to assess the flooding situation. He even spoke to his wife via video call from the container before the incident occurred. Additionally, an onlooker who was standing at a nearby petrol pump was also caught in the collapse.

Fortunately, three other onlookers who were in danger of drowning were rescued by passers-by and policemen. Efforts were made by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to save those trapped, but the slush made it difficult to locate them. The government brought in specialized machinery used in mines to pump out the water and aid in the rescue operation.

Relatives of the victims expressed dissatisfaction with the speed of the rescue operations despite visits from the Highways Minister and the Mayor on the day of the incident. Meanwhile, the city police were engaged in various relief efforts, including helping people in flooded homes, clearing fallen trees, and evacuating individuals from collapsed houses.

Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore visited the police quarters in Egmore to assess the extent of flooding. The police also worked diligently to clear waterlogged streets in Kilpauk and used boats to rescue women, children, and senior citizens in several areas.

In another unfortunate incident related to the rescue efforts, a Sanitary Inspector lost his life and two others were injured in a car accident. They were traveling to Chennai from Villupuram district to assist in relief work when their vehicle collided with a tree on V. Salai.

The construction site collapse and subsequent rescue operations highlight the challenges faced by the city during heavy rain. Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected individuals and to prevent further incidents as the city copes with the aftermath of the rain.