Vellore Church Roof Collapse: 3 Workers Dead, Several Injured, Rescue Operation Underway

September 11, 2026

Vellore: Three labourers were killed and 11 others injured after the roof of a church under construction collapsed in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district on Thursday, officials said.

The injured labourers were rushed by ambulance to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Roof Collapses During Concrete Work

According to a police officer, the incident took place at the under-construction Church of South India edifice at Mandi Krishnapuram, near Katpadi.

The roof slab collapsed while labourers were engaged in pouring concrete for the roof.

The officer said the 20-foot steel scaffolding and support framework suddenly gave way, trapping workers under heavy concrete debris and rubble.

Three labourers died in the incident, the officer confirmed.

NDRF Joins Rescue Operation

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Arakkonam joined the district administration, police and fire service personnel in the rescue operation.

Rescue teams worked at the construction site to locate and evacuate workers trapped beneath the debris.

Vellore District Collector P S Leela Alex was present at the site on Thursday evening and coordinated the rescue operation.

She said the condition of at least eight injured labourers was stable.

Probe Ordered Into Structural Collapse

The District Collector said the administration would form a committee to investigate the exact cause of the structural failure.

The committee will also ascertain whether the builder had obtained all the necessary approvals and building permits for the construction of the church.

Further details are awaited as the investigation into the incident continues.