2014 Chennai building collapse
 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2014) |
On June 28, 2014, a eleven-story under-construction building at Moulivakkam in the suburb of Chennai, Tamil Nadu collapsed, killing 61 people, mostly construction workers.[1]
Builder and building details
Prime Trust Heights is a residential project developed by Prime Sristi Housing Pvt Ltd. Trust height has two towers one is THE FAITH and second tower is called as THE BELIEF. It's a twin eleven storied apartment blocks situated on Kundrathur road near Porur junction. Tower "The Faith" has four apartments of 2 bhk and Tower the Belief" has 4 apts of 3bhk in each floor. Number of 2 bed room flats - 60. Number of 3 bed room flats - 26. Units were priced at 5250 per sq/ft.[2]
Collapse
After heavy rain on Saturday, June 28, an under-construction building at Moulivakkam, a suburb of Chennai collapsed at 5.30pm trapping many constructions workers under the debris.
Rescue operations
Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue force along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Arakkonam base managed the rescue operations. The final death toll was 61 people consisting constructions workers from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati district of Odisha.
Investigation
A single Judge investigation committee and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) were formed by Tamil Nadu government to investigate the cause of the disaster. The major reason for this disaster was due to the carelessness of the builders in Chennai. The chief engineer handling the construction accepted his mistake and was fined by the police.
Aftermath
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) currently scrutinizing construction violations of all new multi-story buildings in and around Chennai. Justice R. Regupathy Commission that inquired into the circumstances led to the collapse of the multi-storeyed building at Moulivakkam in which 55 persons were killed and many injured, has made series of recommendations including a comprehensive legislation for making insurance package compulsory for builders. The incident took place on June 28, 2014.
The report of the commission that was tabled in Assembly on Tuesday suggested comprehensive legislation or vitalisation of the existing legislation so that essential features like insurance package creating triangular responsibilities among bank, builder and customer could me made.
Introducing penal provisions, insisting upon the construction firms taking up mega projects to deposit a sizable sum in fixed deposit for 10 years are the other measures recommended by the commission.
Justice Regupathy also recommended reconstitution of the CMDA at the foundation level by forming a committee consisting of a technical officer of the agency, a law officer, experts in soil investigation, foundation design, structural engineering to compulsorily monitor all mega projects. "Apart from ensuring quality and compliance issues, the main task of the committee should be to inspect the site at all crucial stages, particularly during earth working for foundation, foundation concerting, laying the roof of basement floor and laying of the roof at each floor," Justice Regupathy stressed.
The commission has made a strong case for constituting a special squad to check primarily all mega projects taking place in and around the City limits so that recurrence of any bad incidents could me immediately stopped.
Justice Regupathy held six persons responsible for the collapse of the building, while pointing out that the incident was the best example about the dark side behind the real estate and construction business where money was considered to be the only ambition while lives of human beings/customers were put at stake.
The persons who have been held responsible for the collapse by the commission are Mr Manoharan, Managing Director of the Sirsti Housing Private Ltd, M. Muthukamatchi and M. Balagurusamy, directors, S. Venkatasubramaniam, structural engineer, Vijay Bargotra, consultant architect and R. Duraisingam, K. Karathik and S. Sankar Ramakrishnan, site engineering.
The commission has also recommended constitution of a committee so that the loss caused to the individuals who booked the flats and the injury and damage incurred by neighbouring residents. "Their buildings may be assessed and necessary recommendations may be made by such committee and compensation can be disbursed," the Judge said.
References
- ^ "Chennai building collapse: Death toll at 61, rescue operations end". Hindustan Times. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "property-view-trust-heights-by-prime-sristi-housing-pvt-ltd-in-chennai-central". www.realtycompass.com. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
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Sources