Rescue act stopped on security ground

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The rescue operation at Rangs Bhaban, which had resumed yesterday five days into the cave-in of the building, was stopped on safety grounds 10 minutes after the operation had started.

Engineers from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) stopped the rescue work by the firefighters, saying the supporting structures built inside the collapsed building for conducting rescue operation were not fit.

At around 4:10pm, the firefighters attempted to recover the hanging bodies trapped on the sixth floor before the experts had asked them to stop, witnesses said.

The Rajuk hired four private firms to construct supporting structures with steel bars for carrying out a risk-free rescue operation.

Dr Syed Istiaq Ahmed, associate professor of Civil Engineering Department of the Buet, told The Daily Star, “At this moment, it is risky to continue the rescue operation as the construction of the protection structure was incomplete. Besides, some slabs are tilted.” It requires more supporting structures for resuming the rescue operation, he observed.

They would resume the rescue operation later after talking to the firefighters, Istiaq added.

Fire Brigade officials said that at first they would try to recover the hanging bodies, which they believe would take a few hours. They assumed that the bodies of the missing workers are lying near the bodies visible.

Meanwhile, the Rajuk authorities collected 14 coffins for the killed and missing people.

Relatives of the ill-fated labourers were seen waiting for the bodies of their dear ones in front of the building. Many of them alleged that the authorities have been neglecting the rescue operation.

At least four persons were killed, 11 remained missing and a number of others were injured when the building collapsed on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, at least 50 families in different adjacent buildings moved out yesterday following a police notice on Tuesday. The Tejgaon police in the notice asked the residents to leave the area to avert any risk during the rescue operation.

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