Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Three Killed, 11 Injured in Vellore Church Collapse
A church being built in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, suddenly collapsed.
Workers were pouring concrete onto the roof when the supporting structure gave way.
Heavy concrete and rubble trapped some workers.
News reports gave different numbers, with one saying three people died and 11 were hurt, and another saying two died and 12 were rescued.
Rescue teams from nearby areas worked to find people under the debris.
Survivors were taken to hospitals in Vellore and nearby Chittoor.
Officials said some injured workers were in stable condition.
The government will investigate why the collapse happened and check whether the builders had the right permissions.
The roof of an under-construction Church of South India building collapsed at Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi in Vellore district.
The collapse occurred while labourers were pouring concrete for the roof.
One report said three labourers were killed and 11 injured, while another reported two deaths and 12 people rescued.
Rescuers from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, along with NDRF personnel, searched for trapped workers and transported survivors to hospitals.
Authorities plan to investigate the structural failure and verify whether the church had the required construction approvals and permits.
- Who
- Labourers working on a Church of South India building; police, fire services, district officials and National Disaster Response Force personnel conducted rescue operations.
- What
- The roof and its supporting scaffolding collapsed during concrete pouring, causing reported deaths and injuries.
- When
- Thursday evening.
- Where
- Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, close to the Andhra Pradesh border.
- Why
- The exact cause of the structural failure has not been established; officials will investigate and check construction approvals.
Earlier casualty report
Later casualty report
Deaths and survivors
Earlier casualty report
One report said two people died and 12 people were rescued alive, while officials feared one person could still be trapped.
Later casualty report
Another report, citing a police officer, said three labourers were killed and 11 were injured.
- Reported casualties
- Reports differed: one stated three deaths and 11 injuries; another stated two deaths and 12 people rescued.
- Construction stage
- Workers were pouring concrete for the church roof.
- Collapse mechanism
- A reported 20-foot steel scaffolding and support framework collapsed, bringing down the roof slab.
- Rescue agencies
- District officials, police, fire services and National Disaster Response Force personnel took part in the rescue.
- Hospitals
- Survivors were taken to Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor.
- Investigation
- A committee will examine the structural failure and verify building permits and other required approvals.
- Location
- Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.
