Chennai: Two people have been killed in two rain-related incidents in the city today, as heavy rains lashed this teeming megapolis since last night following the onset of the Northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu.
Police sources said the deceased included a woman flower vendor, a resident of Pulianthope in North Chennai, who was killed when a concrete slab collapsed and fell on her.
The woman, Shanthi, was drawing water from a hand pump when the concrete slab, which was already weak, above her head, collapsed due to heavy rains last night and fell on her.
Shanthi was trapped under the debris. Police and Fire Service personnel rescued her and rushed them to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead.
Police have detained the house owner for questioning.
In the other incident, a 52-year-old autorickshaw driver was electrocuted to death in Vyasarpadi, also in North Chennai.
The victim, Devendran, was walking home when he came into contact with a pole of a pandal to which a focus light was connected at the top. The pandal was erected in front of the house for a funeral.
While crossing the pandal, he inadvertently touched the pole while wading through stagnated rainwater and died of severe shock.
The body was shifted to the Government Stanley Hospital for post-mortem.
