Couple rescued from bldg collapse debris after 65 hours

It was a 'Good Friday' for four persons who were trapped under the debris of the building which collapsed in Dharwad on Tuesday - to come out alive and in a stable health condition.

Even as the rescue personnel had lost all hopes of any survivors and started an operation to clear debris using excavators, they heard a voice of a youth shouting for help.

Immediately, they stopped the heavy machinery and plunged into action manually. Within 30 minutes, they brought out a youth - Sangamesh Ramangoudar - alive from the debris. He was rushed to the civil hospital.

Based on the information given by Sangamesh, the rescue personnel extricated a couple - Dilip Kokare and his wife Sangeeta around 1.30 pm.

Both had fell in love and got married. This was second marriage for both Dileep Kokre and Sangeeta who have four children including two daughters. They were working together at the construction site. Based on the information provided by Sangamesh, the NDRF personnel were able to establish contact with Kokare. He in turn informed that his wife Sangeeta was also struck and he would not come out until his wife was rescued.

Extricating Sangeeta was a challenge as a huge concrete pillar had fallen on her leg. But after relentless efforts, the NDRF succeeded in rescuing both. They were rushed to the ICU in district civil hospital for treatment. Doctors said both were stable, The couple were stuck in the debris for almost 65 hours.

Around 5 pm, the rescue team safely brought out alive a woman labourer, Honanmma Kamsol of Ballari.

In the meantime, the death toll in the tragedy touched 14 on Friday. The rescue teams pulled out two bodies from the debris. The deceased were identified as Anup Kudatkar (23) and Subbanna Neeralkatti (68). Sixty-one persons have been rescued so far and admitted to district hospital.

After the successful rescue efforts, excavators were pressed into service to clear the debris. It is expected that the operation may take at least two days.

Four surrender

Meanwhile, building owners Ravi Basavaraj Sobarad, Basavaraj Demappa Nigadi, Gangappa Shivappa Shintri and Mahabaleshwar Puradagudi surrendered before the local police early on Friday morning. They were produced before the local court which remanded them in police custody.

Ravi Sobarad blamed the engineer who, he claimed, used poor quality material to build the commercial complex.