Three Killed, 11 Injured as Church Roof Collapses in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore

Three people were killed and 11 others injured after a roof structure at an under-construction Church of South India (CSI) building collapsed in Vellore district, officials said.

The accident took place on Thursday at Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi, where workers were engaged in laying concrete for the roof. The supporting steel scaffolding and framework reportedly buckled suddenly, causing the concrete slab to crash down on the labourers working below.

The deceased were identified as John, 39, a building contractor from Bengaluru, and labourers Immanuel, 45, and Samuel, 45, from Andhra Pradesh, according to officials.

The collapse left several workers trapped beneath concrete and construction debris. Rescue teams immediately launched an operation to locate and evacuate those caught under the rubble.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arakkonam, joined local police, fire and rescue services and district administration teams in the effort. The injured were taken by ambulance to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor, across the state border in Andhra Pradesh.

Vellore District Collector P S Leela Alex, who monitored the rescue operation, said at least eight of the injured workers were reported to be in stable condition.

The administration has decided to set up a committee to determine what caused the structural failure. The inquiry will also examine whether the construction agency had secured the necessary permissions, approvals and building permits before undertaking the work.

Authorities are expected to examine the construction practices and safety arrangements at the site as part of the investigation. The incident has also raised questions about compliance with safety requirements during large-scale construction activity.