Tragic incident at Ennore power project site raises questions on worker safety protocols in construction industry.
Nine workers from Assam lost their lives on Tuesday following a tragic scaffolding collapse at the construction site of the Ennore Special Economic Zone thermal power project, located in Chennai’s Thiruvallur district. The incident occurred around 5:45 PM, when the metal structure suddenly gave way, resulting in the workers plunging nearly 45 feet, as confirmed by J. Radhakrishnan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
Amid the chaos, one worker managed to cling to the steel structure and was subsequently rescued. He was taken to the hospital and is reported to be out of danger. Officials noted that despite the presence of safety features such as belts, the workers experienced a rapid and unexpected fall.
The deceased workers were employed by Metalkarma Engineering Technologies, a private contractor engaged by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited for the thermal project. Reports indicate that the workers hailed from different districts in Assam, with four coming from Karbi Anglong and five from Hojai. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the loss and stated that efforts are underway to coordinate with Tamil Nadu authorities for the swift repatriation of the workers’ remains.
The nine victims have been identified as Munna Kemprai, Sorbojit Thausen, Phaibit Fanglu, Bidayum Porbosa, Paban Sorong, Prayanto Sorong, Suman Kharikap, Dimaraj Thousen, and Dipak Raijung. In light of the incident, the Kattur police have initiated a case and sealed the site to facilitate structural inspections, according to unnamed officials from the Avadi Commissionerate.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed condolences to the families affected by this tragedy and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences through a statement, offering an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased, alongside Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding safety measures in construction sites, particularly in relation to the enforcement of safety protocols. As investigations proceed, there will likely be a closer examination of the practices employed by contractors and the oversight provided by regulatory bodies in the construction industry.
