Nine dead, several injured as arch collapses at Chennai's thermal power station

A tragic industrial accident struck the Ennore Thermal Power Station near Chennai on Tuesday night, when a massive steel arch under construction collapsed, killing nine migrant workers and injuring several others. The incident occurred inside the Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal power project, part of an ongoing expansion managed by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) and executed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The victims, identified as labourers from Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Hojai districts, were working on an elevated scaffolding when the structure suddenly gave way. Several others, though seriously injured, survived and were rushed to Stanley Government Hospital in Chennai for emergency treatment.

According to preliminary reports, the collapse was likely caused by a structural failure in the scaffolding or weak steel joints that could not support the weight of the arch. Witnesses recalled a loud cracking sound moments before the entire structure crumbled. Authorities suspect lapses in construction safety protocols, load testing, or supervision during assembly. BHEL, the main contractor responsible for the construction, is under scrutiny, while TANGEDCO officials have launched a technical probe. The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, ordered an immediate investigation, and the Union Government has also sought a detailed report on the incident. Electricity Minister S. S. Sivashankar visited the hospital to meet the injured and oversee the relief measures.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of each deceased worker, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund along with ₹50,000 for the injured. The Assam government, coordinating with Tamil Nadu authorities, is arranging the transport of the bodies to their hometowns and providing additional state assistance, marking a rare interstate relief effort. A joint committee involving TANGEDCO