17 dead as three houses collapse in Mettupalayam near Coimbatore

Seventeen people were killed in Nadur village, Mettupalayam, on Sunday night after three tile roofed houses collapsed when a compound wall fell on them, triggered by rains. The Fire and Rescue services personnel with the assistance of locals and police retrieved the bodies from the debris and the operations were continuing, police said. The dead included two children and four of a family. The Coimbatore Rural Police identified the deceased as Anandha kumar (40) and his family members Akshay and Loguram, aged 7, and Nathiya (30), Guru (45), Ramnath (20), Harisudha, Sivakami, Oviyammal, Vaideghi, Thilakavathi, Arukkani, Rukmani, Nivetha and Chinnammal. The police said they had taken the retrieved bodies to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital. Govt. announces ₹ 4 lakh Collector K. Rajamani on Monday morning inspected the accident spot where the collapse of four houses killed 17 people. Addressing journalists he said the State Government had announced ₹4 lakh each as solatium for each of the deceased. For two more persons he would ensure solatium after taking the Government's concurrence. Mr. Rajamani also said that he had directed the Mettupalayam Thasildar to lodge a complaint with the police and further action would be the result of investigation. He also assured the residents of the Nadur area of relief measures following heavy rains Source: The Hindu