11 dead as compound wall collapses in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: At least 11 construction workers were today killed after a newly built compound wall adjacent to their huts collapsed near Uttarapalayam in Tiruvallur district in Tamnil Nadu.

A 19-year-old youth Nagaraj was rescued from debris, police said.

All the labourers, said to be from Andhra Pradesh, were working in a private godown. Five fire tenders were pressed into service for rescue work.

The incident occurred after heavy rains lashed the area last night, police said.

Tiruvallur District Collector K Veera Raghava Rao visited the accident spot and said those responsible for the incident would be punished.

"A total of 11 people died on the spot, including four women and a child. Rescue operations are going on," Rao told reporters.

Tamil Nadu witnessed a major tragedy when an 11-storey under construction building collapsed at Porur on June 28 in which 61 persons were killed.