Concrete slab collapses during building demolition in Thodupuzha
The deceased are Joy P J, 60, of Pulimutt, Kothamangalam, and Anoop Mathew, 45, of Mali, Malayinkeezhu. Govindaraj, 44, a native of Rajapalayam, and Mithil Mandal, 25, a West Bengal native, sustained serious injuries in the accident. Around 3.45pm, when wooden components of the old building were being dismantled, a concrete slab of about 50m collapsed from the building’s upper portion onto the workers engaged in demolition work below. The nearly 30-year-old building, under Kothamangalam diocese, was used as a residence for retired priests.
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Thodupuzha DSP Saji Markose said police would examine whether there were any lapses in adhering to safety norms in the demolition work. Sanjo Bhavan, an old-age home run by priests, near Muthalakodam Girls High School, was being demolished to make way for constructing a new facility. Demolition work had been going on for nearly two weeks. Police and Thodupuzha fire and rescue services personnel reached the spot and rescued the four workers trapped under the debris. They rushed the injured to a private hospital at Muthalakodam. Anoop was trapped beneath the slab and had sustained severe injuries below the waist. He and Joy died at the spot. Six workers were present at the site at the time. Two of them had gone outside for tea when the slab collapsed. Joy had undertaken the contract for dismantling and removing the wooden components of the building. Anoop is survived by his wife Jisha, a teacher at Fr JBM UP School, Malayinkeezhu, and their children Edwin, Abel and Emmanuel. Joy is survived by his wife Lali and children Lijo and Alphons. Download the TOI App.
Thodupuzha : Two persons were killed and two others seriously injured after a concrete slab of a building collapsed on them while it was being demolished at Muthalakodam near Thodupuzha on Monday afternoon.