18 workers killed, 24 hurt and dozens feared trapped
TEAM HERALD
[email protected]
CANACONA: Around 18 workers were killed, 24 others were injured and dozens of workers were feared trapped in one of the worst mishaps in the State, when a building under construction collapsed at Chaudi-Canacona on Saturday afternoon.
The four-storeyed building of one of the several residential blocks of Ruby Residency at Chaudi collapsed like a pack of cards at about 2.30 pm, catching many workers unaware while they were taking a short nap after lunch.
While most of the trapped workers hailed from Jharkhand, many specialized workers such as plumbers, electricians and painters, hailing from Gaondongrim and surrounding areas, had just reached the construction site to commence their work after lunch break when the building collapsed.
Several rescue teams, including fire brigades, 108 EMRI paramedics, police teams and army platoons, were involved in frantic search operations till late night to pull out the trapped workers from the debris. A few private doctors came rushing to the site and offered to provide medical assistance, if needed, to the victims.
Most of the injured workers were rushed to the Community Health Centre at Canacona, where 16 workers were declared dead at the CHC and two died in the ambulance while being shifted to other hospitals, sources said.
Even though there is no official figure of casualties, it is believed that around 60-70 workers were still trapped inside the debris.
Two distraught workers from Jharkhand, who were in tears, informed Herald that several of their companions were trapped inside the huge pile of debris. “Over 80 persons from Jharkhand have been working for the contractor here,” said one worker.
“Many of our colleagues were resting at lunch time in the basement of the building and there could have been 70-80 people trapped inside,” the worker added.
Cranes and JCBs were pressed in all directions, in a bid to prepare the ground for rescue operations, while fire services teams drawn from Sanvordem, Cuncolim, Canacona and elsewhere also took part in the rescue operations.
At one point, faint cries for help were heard from two different directions and firefighters tried to pass a water bottle through a small hole, from where the sound could be heard. However, the ill-equipped rescuers could do little to rescue the trapped workers from the rubble.
Incidentally, according to some relatives two of the three bodies lying at CHC were identified as Sudhakar G Velip (24) and Vikas D Velip (25) from Gaondongrim.
Canacona Municipal Engineer Ajay Dessai, who was armed with the building plans, informed that the building under construction was to include 15 large-size flats in the four-storeyed complex and a basement.
“There are about 62 flats in other buildings in the block and another block of row houses,” said Dessai.
South Collector Venancio Furtado, who was also at the site, told Herald that various rescue teams were being requisitioned to locate and rescue the trapped workers.
Among the MLAs who were at the site to take stock of the situation included local MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar ~ who, incidentally, resides in one of the residential blocks of Ruby Residency in the same compound ~ Sanvordem
MLA Ganesh Gaonkar and Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar.
Locals, who had gathered in large numbers at the accident site, demanded the presence of army platoons to participate in the rescue operations, as they felt that rescue operations would not be an easy task for the local agencies given the magnitude of the situation.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who rushed to the site on hearing the tragedy, was being constantly briefed by various officials and local MLA Ramesh Tawadkar at the site. Incidentally, Parrikar was earlier in Canacona to inaugurate Lokotsav-14 at Poinguinim and had proceeded to Margao, when he was informed of the mishap and quickly returned to Canacona.
Parrikar then directed the authorities to initiate moves to seek the services of the army or navy personnel for the rescue operations.
Responding quickly to requests from state officials, over 200 military personnel reached late evening and took part in rescue operations at the collapsed building of Ruby Residency complex at Chaudi. Army personnel pulled out seven bodies, including the bodies of five security personnel, late at night and rescused one person from the debris.
Officials from Sesa Goa on Disaster Management had also reached at the spot and were seen guiding the rescue operations till late night.
On the directions of the chief minister, authorities made elaborate arrangements for round the clock rescue operations. Electricity department reacted swiftly to provide floodlights to keep the entire area illuminated, while the local gas agency was directed to provide suitable gas cylinders needed for gas-cutting equipment. Police teams were asked to be stationed at the site to cordon off the area and to enable rescue agencies to work overnight.
The residential complex ‘Ruby Residency’ is a project of Bharat Developers and efforts to contact the directors of Bharat Developers were unsuccessful, as the phones were either switched off or not answered.
Incidentally, the seven-year-old project of Ruby Residency had been mired in controversy since its inception when residents had objected to the building on grounds that it was constructed on the edge of a hill and was also encroaching into paddy fields.
Overcoming stiff opposition, the builder completed both phases of the project and the mishap took place in the second phase of the project.
As part of the amenities, Ruby Residency also offers a swimming pool, club house with gymnasium, badminton and basketball court, and children’s play area.
