Update at 1.00 am: One more persons has been rescued from under the rubble. He is a male. According to Fire officer Rajesh Bhatt, two children are believed to be under rubble and efforts to rescue them are underway. The latest persons rescued has been shifted to hospital. 

 

Ahmedabad: Two blocks of four – storey(G+3) 1999 make EWS(economically weaker section) quarters collapsed in Odhav area of city today evening. There were 32 units in these two blocks. At least 10 persons are feared trapped under rubble. Fire and Emergency Services staff of Amdavad Municipal Corporation(AMC) has started operation on the site giving priority to save lives. The team has worked during year 2001 Gujarat earthquake and has enough experience to deal with such situation and rescue lives. As per the updated details, two persons are rescued. They are identified as Bhartiben Patni and Ajaybhai Patni.

Minister of state for Home, City Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, leader of ruling party in AMC also rushed to the site.

Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra told media persons that the buildings were vacated yesterday, but some people had arrived again today morning. The AMC again vacated the units with support of police. As most of the housing units were vacated, major tragedy has been averted. Today evening some people are feared to have visited the blocks again. 8 to 10 people are feared trapped in rubble, but exact details will be known only after rubble is removed. The AMC has sought NDRF team to join the task.

Additional Chief Fire Officer Rajesh Bhatt said, 100 fire jawans, 6 emergency tenders, multiple rescue vehicles, crane, JCB machine, civil department staff, head of the departments are present. Structure of building is such that it needs manual work and not machine work, therefore it will take longer time to complete the operation. NDRF team is not required at this stage but it will be needed for replacement eventually. People gathered around the site are asked not to make noise, so that someone under the rubble seeking help can be heard and precise location can be fixed for rescue.

Minister of State for Home, Pradipsinh Jadeja said, ‘teams of municipal corporation, state govt, NDRF and fire brigade are carrying out rescue operation. 5 NDRF teams are also deployed. Required machinery will be deployed immediately.’

Leader of opposition Dinesh Sharma said, ‘AMC is responsible for this tragedy. The owners could be given notice well in advance so that they could vacate the unit and shift elsewhere. Here in this case, the notice was served just two days ago.’

Locals gathered at the site said, those who had vacated the building had returned to take away things inside the house due to fresh round of rain.

Meanwhile NDRF teams arrived post 11.00 pm with sniffer dogs and other machinery for removal of rubble and rescue of those feared trapped inside.

Four persons are admitted in hospital in connection with this incident. Of them two are having head injuries. All four are out of danger according to doctors.

 

 

 

 

DeshGujarat