Chennai rains: One dies in roof collapse, another electrocuted

CHENNAI: Two persons were killed in rain-related incidents in the city since Monday night. In one of the incidents, a 42-year-old woman, K Shanthi, died after a portion of the balcony in her house in Pulianthope collapsed on her on Tuesday morning

The deceased woman was a vegetable vendor, police said. On Tuesday, around 8 am, she went to fetch water from a handpump near her house when the incident happened. Hearing the woman’s cries, her family members and neighbours rushed to her rescue. After clearing the debris, she was taken to a private hospital nearby, where she was declared brought dead.

Police said that the woman suffered injuries on her head. Pulianthope police have registered a case and are investigating. Shanthi is survived by her husband Kabali (50), daughter Vidya, who is mentally challenged, and a son Manikandan (20). The family was living in a rented house and the house owner is being questioned, police said.

In another incident in Vyasarpadi, a 52-year-old man, an autorickshaw driver was electrocuted after he touched a metal pole fitted to a tent near his residence in Vyasarpadi on Monday night.

Police said Devendran parked his auto on the 18th Street of Baktha Vatchalam (BV) Colony and walked towards his house on 25th Street as the street was flooded with rainwater. While wading through the flooded street he touched the metal pole for support and got electrocuted. Police said that a snapped live wire had passed electricity through the metal pole. MKB Nagar police have registered a case. The deceased Devendran is survived by his wife Latha, and two sons.

(For rain-related grievance, contact 044-25619206, 044-25619207, 044-25619208 or dial toll-free number - 1913)