MUMBAI: The rescue and clearing operations at the site of the Chandivali building collapse entered its third day on Monday, with three more bodies being pulled out of the rubble, taking the toll to four.
The partial collapse of the multi-storey commercial complex occurred at around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday. The National Disaster Response Force(NDRF), Fire Brigade, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have been working round the clock since then.
At around 12.20 a.m. on Monday, the body of a poclain machine operator, identified as Naval Singh (35), was pulled out.
At around 8:30 p.m., the NDRF pulled out the second body, which was identified as that of Nasim Akhtar (30), a labourer, who was pulling out iron rods from the chunks of concrete that came loose during the demolition.
Nasim was working with his two brothers-in-law, Jiyabar Rehman and Sariful Mate. All of them hail from Malda in West Bengal. While Jiyabar managed to escape, Sariful is missing. Jiyabhar was seen at the site crying uncontrollably. “I don’t know what and how to tell my sister (Sariful’s wife). I am trying not to lose hope, but chances of us seeing Sariful again are bleak,” he said.
Late at night, rescue workers pulled out another body, and he is yet to be identified.
NDRF officials said the rain, which was heavy and incessant on Monday, hampered the operations. “Heavy rain has increased the possibility of a secondary collapse. We have to move at a very careful pace, so as to not put the rescue personnel at risk. However, the chances of anyone getting rescued alive at this point are next to zero,” said Deputy Commandant Sachidanand Gawade, NDRF.
Abaidur Rehman, a labourer at the site, said, “We were hoping to see our colleagues alive, but the sight of bodies just crushed all our hopes.”
The operation was under way till late into the night on Monday, and officials said providing a time frame at this stage would be difficult.
