Young woman dies, caught under debris from building demolition, on Chennai’s arterial Anna Salai

The 25-year-old was walking on the footpath when a chunk of debris from the demolition of an unused building at Thousand Lights fell on her; another young man was injured in the incident, police said

A 25-year-old woman died, when the debris of a building being demolished, fell on her, in Thousand Lights on Anna Salai in Chennai on Friday morning. Another pedestrian was also injured in the incident, police said.

The woman was identified as Padma Priya, from Madurai, who lived in Pammal and worked at a private firm on Anna Salai. The injured man was identified as Vignesh Kumar, also 25.

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As the building was not being used anymore, a few workers were demolishing the structure, using an earthmover. The incident occurred when the woman was walking on the footpath; she was caught under a block of debris that fell on her. Vignesh Kumar was also walking on the footpath, and suffered minor injuries. Shocked passers-by immediately alerted the police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel.

On receiving the information, police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel arrived at the spot and rescued the injured woman from under the debris. Both the victims were rushed to Government Royapettah Hospital, where Padma Priya was declared ‘brought dead’.

Thousand Lights Police have registered a case and are investigating.