Dharwad building collapse: Death toll rises to five

Dharwad: The death toll in the Dharwad building collapse has risen to five with rescuers recovering three more bodies, including a minor from the debris on Wednesday morning. 

On Tuesday, the four-storeyed building, which was under-construction came down crashing giving rise to a thick cloud of dust at Kumareshwaranagar in the heart of Dharwad, triggering widespread panic among neighbours and passers-by. The rescue team has so far has rescued 58 persons and admitted to civil hospital.

Earlier, Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Deepa Cholan had said that two people have died while over 70 people were trapped. 

Residents said there were several shops on the ground floor and many people often used to visit there. Rajesh, a witness, told a Kannada TV channel that the first two floors of the building were being rented out by shops. “There was a tea shop, a photostat shop,” he added.

Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader from the region Vinay Kulkarni said one of the partners in the building was his relative.

Speaking to reporters, he said whoever was involved should face action.

Most of those trapped were migrant labourers from North India who were engaged in laying the tiles.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who expressed shock over the collapse, directed the chief secretary to supervise the rescue operation.

An eye-witness alleged that the building did not have the capacity to bear four storeys whereas an extra floor was being added.

“The builders had used substandard materials,” he told reporters.

Besides police and fire and emergency services, BSF jawans, who were deployed for the Lok Sabha polls, too were engaged, as the rescue operations were on.