3-year-old miraculously pulled out alive from debris

Despite the unexpected tragedy, there was some consolation for residents of 9th Cross, Gundappa Layout, Ejipura.

There was a relief when Fire Department staff pulled up three-year-old Sanjana alive. She had miraculously escaped from jaws of death.

The rescue team found it difficult to control the mob as local residents competed with each other to have the glimpse of Sanjana.

“It was nothing short of a miracle,” Radha, Sanjana’s neighbour exclaimed.

More than anybody else, it was Sanjana and her tale of survival that that was the talk of the locality.

Neither the rescue teams nor her parents had little hope of finding her alive.

“While digging through debris, we spotted a tender hand of a baby around 10.40 am. The hand was moving but partially covered in dust. It was then that we realised the baby was still alive,” Mahesh, a rescue worker told DH.

She was lying in the hall below an almirah which had bent against the wall virtually protecting her. Sanjana’s mother Ashwini’s body was retrieved from the kitchen, while that Saravana, her father and a mechanic, from the bathroom.

Varadarajan, deputy director of Fire and Emergency services department, held her to his chest and ran towards the ambulance to shift her to the hospital.

“The baby was totally terrified. She had burns. I could see nothing else. Little Sanjana should recover fast,” he said.

Sanjana’s parents had planned to take the baby to her grandparents’ house for Deepavali festival.

“I met the couple on Sunday and they told me about their plan of visiting her grandparents’ house,” Kalavathi, Ashwini’s aunt, said.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who visited the spot, assured them that the government would bear Sanjana’s academic expenses.

“The government would provide Rs 5 lakh compensation to the family members of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 to those injured,” Reddy said.

It was a different tale altogether at Pawan Kalyan’s house. His parents had finalised a girl for his wedding. They had planned to finalise a wedding date next month. Malashree and Prasad, both his relatives, had come to his house for a discussion on Sunday night.

“We all had dinner together and a nice time. We teased him about his married life and other issues. I am unable to believe that I’ve lost my friend,” Sukumar, said.