Chennai, Oct 1 (NationPress) Law enforcement officials have initiated legal proceedings against the contractor responsible for an under-construction facility at Tamil Nadu's Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS). This follows a devastating incident on Monday evening that resulted in the deaths of nine migrant workers from Assam and left one individual injured. An FIR has been lodged under pertinent legal provisions, with investigators scrutinizing potential safety oversights and design defects that could have led to this catastrophic event.

A senior officer from Kattur Police Station provided details, stating that the mishap occurred when a steel structure approximately 45 metres tall — part of a new coal handling unit being developed under a Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) contract — unexpectedly collapsed.

“Ten individuals plummeted from that height after the base they were on gave way. Nine were declared dead upon arrival at the Government Royapettah Stanley Hospital, while one remains hospitalized,” explained K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his sorrow and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased worker. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences and instructed Electricity Minister S.S. Sivasankar along with TANGEDCO chief Radhakrishnan to oversee the relief and rescue operations at the site.

Stalin also declared a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for every affected family.

Officials reported that the migrant laborers were engaged in work under the steel framework at the time of the sudden collapse. Emergency services swiftly arrived to remove debris and assist those trapped. The site has been cordoned off to facilitate a comprehensive safety audit while technical teams investigate whether engineering faults or negligence played a role in the disaster.

This tragedy has ignited political responses across Tamil Nadu. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Selvaperunthagai expressed their condolences and called for stringent actions against those accountable.

Investigators noted that additional charges may be imposed once safety compliance evaluations and accountability assessments are concluded.

The sole survivor is currently under medical care and is reported to be in stable condition. This incident has reignited discussions around workplace safety for migrant laborers involved in the state's industrial initiatives.