Chennai: 9 killed as under-construction building collapses at Ennore Thermal Power Station; PM Modi announces ex gratia

At least nine people died and one person was injured after a steel arch collapsed at an under-construction building at the Ennore Thermal Power Station in Chennai on Tuesday.

“There was an unfortunate incident at the Ennore Thermal Power construction site where a steel arch fell and nine people died,” reported ANI, quoting Dr J Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO).

The deceased were migrant workers from Assam and the surrounding areas, Radhakrishnan said.

The preliminary reports indicated that one worker suffered serious injuries. The injured individual was taken to Stanley Government Hospital in North Chennai.

The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The Avadi Police Commissionerate said the rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Names of the victims:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condoled the death of the nine migrant workers who died in the tragic accident, and shared their identities:

1. Munna Kemprai

2. Sorbojit Thausen

3. Phaibit Fanglu

4. Bidayum Porbosa

5. Paban Sorong

6. Prayanto Sorong,

7. Suman Kharikap

8. Dimaraj Thousen

9. Dipak Raijung

Sarma said that four of the victims belonged to the Karbi Anglong District and five to the Hojai District.

“We are coordinating with authorities in Tamil Nadu to bring back their mortal remains at the earliest,” he added. “My deepest condolences to their families and well-wishers.”

PM Modi announces ex gratia

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the incident.

“My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” said PMO in a post on X.

Modi also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured.