Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090859790300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Portion of building collapses

Petlee Peter

— Photo: S. Kannan

A view of the building at West Mambalam on Sunday.

CHENNAI: A portion of a dilapidated building, believed to be about 60 years old, collapsed near the West Mambalam railway station on Sunday night. No one was injured.

The building on Hanuman Koil Street has a restaurant on the ground floor, a photo studio and three houses on the first floor and a house on the second floor. A part of the second floor collapsed at 9.30 p.m. Cracks on the building were widened by the roots of a peepal tree.

Tenants Shambavi Rao (63) and her daughter Rani (38) were watching television when a part of their home gave way. They were able to rush to safety through a flight of stairs.

The debris that was left hanging dangerously on the second floor was cleared by seven firemen and two fire tenders. Only a week ago, an adjoining building had collapsed, injuring two people, said Tirupathy, a vegetable vendor on Station Road.