Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each of the nine workers who died in a recent accident at the Ennore Thermal Power Plant construction site near Chennai. The incident occurred on September 30, 2025, when a steel arch collapsed at the under-construction site.
The deceased workers were migrant workers from Assam. Chief Minister Stalin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, stating he was deeply saddened by the news. He also directed officials to ensure the bodies are transported to Assam. Power Minister Sivasankar and senior officials from TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) were instructed to personally supervise relief and recovery operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. Additionally, ₹50,000 would be given to those who sustained injuries.
The accident occurred at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station expansion project, where Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is the main contractor. According to J Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director of TANGEDCO, a steel arch fell at the Ennore Thermal Power construction site, resulting in nine deaths and one injury. BHEL officials were present at the site.
Police officers from the Avadi Commissionerate are investigating the cause of the collapse. The Kattur police have filed a case and sealed off the site pending structural inspections.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that all nine of the dead workers were from Assam, with four from Karbi Anglong district and five from Hojao district. He identified the deceased as Munna Kemprai, Sorbojit Thausen, Phaibit Fanglu, Bidayum Porbosa, Paban Sorong, Prayanto Sorong, Suman Kharikap, Dimaraj Thousen, and Dipak Raijung. The Assam government is coordinating with Tamil Nadu authorities to bring back the mortal remains of the workers.
