Chennai Metro I-Girders Collapse Debris Wire Sawing
Diamond wire sawing was used to clear the debris of two girders that unexpectedly collapsed onto the street in Chennai, India last Thursday(June 12).
On Thursday, June 12, at an under-construction metro site in Chennai, India, two I-girders unexpectedly collapsed onto the road below.
These heavy load-bearing structures, commonly used in metro rail construction, were made from high-strength M60 concrete with dense reinforcement and high-tension PT (post-tensioning) wires. Each I-girder measured up to 33 meters in length and weighed several tons, making the task of clearing debris from an active roadway both urgent and extremely challenging.
Initially, traditional concrete breakers were deployed to dismantle the beams. However, it quickly became clear that this method would be time-consuming. As a faster and more efficient alternative, diamond wire sawing was selected to cut the girders into smaller, manageable sections.
Chennai-based PK Unique Projects Pvt. Ltd. was brought in to carry out the cutting using diamond wire sawing machines. The team used HBB diamond wire, specifically engineered for high cutting speeds and exceptional performance in heavily reinforced concrete. Its optimized diamond exposure and specialized bond design make cutting through such complex materials significantly easier and more precise.
Pictured Wire Sawing of Fallen I-Girder, Chennai Metro, India
Thanks to the swift response and technical expertise of the PK Projects team—and the high-performance capabilities of the HBB wire—the time required to dismantle the collapsed girders was reduced from nearly 5 hours with conventional breakers to under 1 hour with diamond wire sawing.
Diamond wire sawing is a fast, reliable, and effective method for debris management and material removal in emergency construction scenarios. Having access to a dependable, high-performance diamond wire is crucial to responding quickly and safely. With the girders successfully cut and removed, the road was cleared within hours and reopened to traffic.
Unfortunately, a motorcyclist traveling on the street below lost their life in the incident. We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.
