Savar death toll 300 and counting

Death toll in the Savar tragedy swelled to 300 on Friday afternoon, roughly after 50 hours since the collapse of Rana Plaza, with around 2,000 people injured and many more trapped inside the rubble.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 April 2013, 11:27 PM
Updated : 26 April 2013, 06:03 AM

Rescuers said many more people were stuck under the debris of the nine-storied building. Rescue operations are likely to be called off on Saturday morning.

A temporary control room has been set up near the Savar Bus Stand close to the site of the disaster to provide the distressed families with information.

The official death count was 300 at 5.35pm Friday, Inspector (Investigation) Aminur Rahman of the Savar Model Station told bdnews24.com

So far, 286 bodies had already been handed over to the relatives, he said and added that 23 bodies had been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital as they had started to decay.

The air was heavy at the Savar Bus Stand and Adharchandra School premises with the stench of dead bodies, bdnews24.com Correspondent at the scene reported. Scores were waiting for news of their loved ones holding their pictures in their hands.

Control room officials said rescuers had listed names of 372 people who were still missing.

Salvage efforts would continue until Saturday morning, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director Zahidul Alam said.

“We are still finding people alive. We will continue our search for 72 hours (from the time of the building collapse).”

He said heavy equipment would be used to remove the debris after that.

Fire Service Director General Ali Ahmed Khan on Thursday afternoon told reporters more than 3,000 people were at work in the five readymade garment factories located in the building when it crumbled. Now it has only three stories left standing.

The Bangladesh Army was sent to assist rescue operations, though it was mostly the public who were putting in maximum effort.

The high-rise Rana Plaza caved in on Wednesday morning. According to locals, around 3,500 workers were working in the five garment factories inside when the tragedy struck.

The building had showed cracks on Tuesday. But the building owner, a Seinor Joint Convenor of the ruling Awami League’s youth wing Jubal League, Sohel Rana, had dismissed them as ‘nothing serious’.

The Industrial Police had confirmed that the owners had decided to operate the factories housed in the building ignoring the lurking danger.

Five lawsuits were filed in the labour court on Thursday over the worst case of building collapse in Bangladesh.

On Wednesday night, police and RAJUK filed two other cases at the Savar Model Police Station accusing Rana, who is on the run, and the owners of the factories.

However, law enforcers have failed to capture Rana even though the Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir has already ordered his arrest.

Rana escaped unhurt and was taken away by local MP Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad from the basement of the building as he visited the site on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday told parliament that those responsible for these deaths would be handed down exemplary punishment.

On the other hand, the opposition BNP has blamed the government for the Savar tragedy. Chairperson Khaleda Zia also visited the site and those being treated in various hospitals.

The Home Ministry, Ministry of Commerce and the Dhaka District Administration on Thursday formed three separate probe committees to investigate the collapse. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Labour and Employment had formed a five-member probe panel.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services has opened a round-the-clock- emergency control room at its Mohakhali headquarters to monitor the medical care of the collapse victims.

According to the Ministry of Health, they have also activated two helpline numbers – 01759114488 and 9855933.