Chennai building collapse kills migrant worker

A migrant worker named Anil, a native of Rajasthan, died on Monday after a portion of a dilapidated five-storey building collapsed on him in Old Washermenpet, Chennai. Anil was cycling home from work when the incident occurred.

Local residents reported that the building had been in poor condition since at least 2021, with several structures in the area facing similar stability issues. Although the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) had reportedly issued three demolition notices to the owners on safety grounds, the orders were never enforced.

Police have arrested the building owners—T Rajavel, T Maruthi Raja, and T Sivakumar—and remanded them in judicial custody on charges of causing death by negligence. An inquiry is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse, with initial reports suggesting recent rain may have weakened the structure.