Jayalalithaa attributes building collapse due to structural defect, builder flouting norms

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa on Sunday, attributed the cause of the building collapse due to structural defect and the builder violating various norms.

Speaking to the reporters after visiting the site, she said, "It appears that the building plans that were approved were not strictly adhered to by the builders. There was nothing wrong with the plans that were submitted for approval. But the builders knowingly committed many violations and didnot adhere to the plans that was approved."

"It is too early to say exactly what went wrong, but there appears to have been serious structural defects, which is apparent in the adjoining building also, constructed by the same company and tests have to be conducted whether the soil is capable of bearing such a huge weight," she added.

The chief minister declared that about 72 people were inside the building when the structure collapsed claiming eleven lives as of now.

"About 72 persons were working inside when the building collapsed. So various departments are co-ordinating with each other ...to recover rescue of all the remaining people who were working inside," the chief minister said.

"Rescue operations have been going on since last evening without any respite.So far 31 people have been rescued , 11 are no more and 20 are receiving best medical care and treatement in hospital. Many of the workers are from Andhra and some are from the northern states and efforts are going on to locate the remaining workers," she added.

"It appears about 20 were women, the rest were men. We have made arrangements to house and feed the families of the workers who were trapped inside the building. The Government has made all arrangements for their housing, shelter and food," she further added.

"Meanwhile rescue efforts are continuing unabated and we hope that we will save as many lives as possible,' she said.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. last evening when the structure collapsed at Moulivakkam near Porur, about 20 km from Chennai. It was raining heavily at the time.