- By Shibra Arshad
- Fri, 13 Jun 2025 08:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chennai Metro News: A massive segment of the under-construction metro girder collapsed near DLF Ramapuram on Friday, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist. The victim was going toward Porur when a girder of an under-construction metro rail line fell on him.
According to an eyewitness, a segment of the girder fell between two piers on the elevated corridor near the L&T head office in Manapakkam after it came loose. It is said that the girder weighed approximately 50 to 100 tonnes. The deadly accident triggered a Huge traffic snarl on Poonamallee–St Thomas Mount Road. The emergency team swiftly rushed to the incident site to remove the rubble.
The girder that fell was one of the heavy, long, beam-like I-girders to support the track of the future metro, which failed during installation.
The accident occurred due to the failure of the temporary steel support used to keep the girder in place during the construction, as the failure occurred in the A-framed steel support, Times of India reported. The steel support keeps grinders in place until they are permanently fixed during the installation between piers.
According to a statement from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), “two I-girders erected near the L&T head office main gate in Manapakkam collapsed after one of the supporting A-frames slipped.”
I-Girders are a vital part of the elevated metro system, as it is engineered to carry heavy loads. They are placed between large concrete piers and make the base for the metro track, as tracks are laid on these only.
The CMRL said that a teams continue to study the site and will soon determine the exact reason behind the grave incident, as it promises accountability, saying ‘a thorough investigation is forthcoming’.