UP man dies after scaffolding collapses at Adambakkam temple

In a tragic incident at Adambakkam, Chennai, a 21-year-old migrant labourer, R Hariram from Uttar Pradesh, lost his life on Monday night. He was trapped under a collapsed scaffolding while working on the project to elevate the Sri Utthara Guruvayoorappan Temple. The temple, located on Ram Nagar second main road, was undergoing elevation by Mamchand House Uplifting Private Limited.

The temple, built in 1969, stood below road level, prompting authorities to initiate the lifting project. Ten labourers from various states were employed for this task since July of the previous year. The elevation process had already raised the temple by approximately five feet.

The unfortunate incident occurred around 11:30 am when Hariram was setting up the scaffolding to lift a small shed-like structure within the temple premises. Without warning, the scaffolding collapsed, causing severe injuries to Hariram’s head and chest. Despite being rushed to Chromepet Government Hospital and later referred to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, he tragically succumbed to his injuries that same night.

Upon investigation, Adambakkam police discovered discrepancies in the initial reports provided by the temple trustee, advocate Janani, who initially downplayed the severity of the accident. Eventually, it was revealed that Hariram had lost his life in the mishap. Following postmortem procedures, his body was handed over to his fellow workers.

Moreover, the collapsed scaffolding not only claimed a life but also caused damage to the compound wall of a neighboring house, measuring approximately 20 feet wide and four feet high.

This tragic incident underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in construction projects, especially when involving the use of heavy equipment like scaffolding. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter to prevent similar accidents in the future and to ensure the safety of all workers involved in such endeavors.