Three people have died and more than 15 people are feared trapped after a four-storey building in Dharwad district of Karnataka collapsed on March 19, reported India Today. Around 56 people, mostly labourers who were working on the building, were rescued. The rescue operations were still underway on the morning of March 20.
Giridhar Kuknoor, District surgeon in Dharwad said that 43 people were admitted to Civil Hospital and 13 people were referred to KIMS and SDM hospital. Apart from police, fire and emergency services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Border Security Forces (BSF) who were posted for the upcoming election polls were tapped in for the rescue operations.
What has happened?
The building was under construction for the last two years. Work was ongoing on the third floor. Eyewitnesses said that the building came down crashing, causing panic among passerby and neighbours. One of the eyewitnesses said that the first and second floor were given out for rent. It is expected that there were more than 60 functional shops on both floors. According to some reports, around 150 people were present in the shops when the building came down.
One of the eyewitnesses alleged that the building was not in a capacity to bear four storeys. He further accused the builders of using substandard materials. Most of the people who were trapped were north Indian workers who were laying tiles.
Politicians show solidarity
After the news broke, politicians took to Twitter to express their grief. G Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister was one of the first to address the public. He also confirmed that an NDRF team participated in the operation.
Rescue operations continued overnight in Dharwad. An NDRF team is also participating in the operation. 56 people have been rescued so far and three people are seriously injured.
My condolences to the families of the victims. My prayers go out to those who are injured.
— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) March 20, 2019
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy asked locals not to panic and said that rescue operations were in full swing.
The rescue work is on a war footing
About 25 people have been rescued and three persons are seriously injured. The injured are being treated.
I request the local public not to panic and all those feared trapped in the building will be rescued ASAP.
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 19, 2019
Also Read: Ghaziabad: Again Another Illegal Under-Construction Building Collapses Killing 1 & Injuring 8
