Chennai pub ceiling collapse kills 3; CMRL says ‘not due to the ongoing metro rail works’

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The incident

On Thursday, 28 March, the “building’s first floor concrete ceiling collapsed abruptly,” a city police release said.

Three people who were on the first floor — Max (22) and Lalli (24, transgender) of Manipur, besides 48-year-old Cyclone Raj were killed in the incident, it said.

“In this regard, a case would be registered and investigated accordingly,” the release said.

On information, the police reached the spot, retrieved the bodies and sent them to Government Royapettah Hospital.

Senior Police officers visited the spot. TN Fire & Rescue Services and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were engaged in clearing the debris.

The victims were employees of the pub, a senior official had said earlier.

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Chennai Metro clarifies

Hours after the incident, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) issued a clarification in connection with the “recent incident of collapse of Mezzanine floor at Sekhmet recreation club”.

It said on its official handle on X (formerly Twitter): “CMRL wishes to clarify that this unfortunate incident was not due to the ongoing metro rail works, as the work is almost 240 ft away from the building. [sic]”

The CMRL added: “No vibrations or settlement have been noticed in the building. CMRL officers are making further on the spot investigation. [sic]”

It also said: “CMRL also wishes to inform that it is extending assistance to TN Fire and Rescue Services in the rescue work. [sic]

In connection with recent incident of collapse of Mezzanine floor at Sekhmet recreation club, #Alwarpet

CMRL wishes to clarify that this unfortunate incident was not due to the ongoing metro rail works, as the work is almost 240 ft away from the building. No vibrations or…

— Chennai Metro Rail (@cmrlofficial) March 28, 2024

(With PTI inputs)