Bodies of 9 Assam workers killed in Ennore accident flown home

CHENNAI:The bodies of nine guest workers from Assam, who died in the accident at the Ennore SEZ Super Critical Thermal Power Station on Tuesday evening, were sent to their home State on a special flight on Thursday morning.

In the fatal incident, the nine workers, all hailing from Assam, were crushed to death on the spot. Another worker is reported to be in critical condition and is receiving intensive care at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.

Officials said the mishap occurred between 5 pm and 5.30 pm when the workers were erecting a 45-metre-high steel cover for the coal handling unit. The massive arch gave way, bringing all 10 men down.

Following the accident, the bodies were taken to Stanley Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased, and also stated that arrangements would be made to transport the victims' bodies to their native places in Assam via air.

In accordance with this, the bodies were embalmed and prepared at Stanley Hospital, placed in coffins, and transferred to the cargo office of IndiGo Airlines near the old Chennai airport around 2.30 am on Thursday.

All necessary formalities for the air transport were completed, and the special flight took off at 8.40 am to Guwahati in Assam.

The flight also carried family members of the deceased and representatives from the construction company.

The victims were contract workers engaged through a subcontractor of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.