Goa building collapse: toll rises to 15; search on for builder

Panaji, Jan 5: With the recovery of two more bodies, the death toll in the building collapse at Goa's Cancona town rose to 15 on Sunday even as fire personnel feared that around 20 people could still be lying under the rubble.

A search was, meanwhile, on for the missing builder and contractor of the under-construction five-storey residential building that caved in Cancona town, about 70 kms from Goa, on Saturday.

“The death toll in the building collapse has risen to 15,” Goa acting Chief Secretary R.K. Srivastava said.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he will announce compensation for the victims on Monday.

Fire personnel fear some people could still be under the rubble of the building that collapsed at Cancona near here but the possibility of finding more survivors at the site appears bleak as a huge pile of debris is affecting the pace of rescue operations.

Goa fire and emergency services personnel and Army carried out rescue operations overnight to look for more survivors but due to huge pile of debris, chances of finding anybody alive was getting slimmer with the passage of time.

Fire personnel fear that around 20 people could still be lying under the rubble and chances of anyone of them coming out alive was remote.

“Earlier there were some sounds coming from the debris which helped rescuers to locate them and rescue two persons who were asking for help,” said an eyewitness, adding no more voices can be heard now from inside.

The state police have also launched a search for the builder Vishwas Desai and contractor Jaideep Saigal against whom an FIR was filed on Saturday for endangering human life, causing death and negligence.

“Both the builder and contractor have been missing while attempts are on to trace them,” police inspector Harish Madkaikar said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police O.P. Mishra said that police will investigate with all seriousness into the offence registered against the builder-contractor duo.

But, the priority right now is to rescue people from the debris, he said.

Officials said the building was being developed by Navi Mumbai-based Bharat Realtors and Developers.

Earlier:

14 killed in Goa building collapse, many trapped

Canacona (Goa), Jan 5: At least 14 people died and many injured, while more than a dozen were feared trapped under the debris of an under-construction building in Ca¬n¬ac¬ona town, 60 km from state capital Panaji, on Saturday.

Police said a portion of a three-storey building, Ruby Residency, located in the Chawdi ward of Canacona, collapsed, burying over 50 people working at the site.

The Army has been called in for relief and rescue work, according to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. “Eleven bodies have been extracted. Thirteen injured workers have been shifted to various hospitals depending on the seriousness of their injuries. But there are at least a dozen or more trapped under the debris,” an official said.

Officials from the police, health and fire service departments used heavy equipment, gas cutters and crane to get to the trapped workers. Rescue work could continue through the night. The police has been asked to get cracking and nab those prima facie responsible for the accident.

“An FIR has been filed against the builder, contractor and the municipal engineer in-charge. We will not spare anyone,” Parrikar said, adding that a state government-organised cultural programme organised in the vicinity was cancelled following the tragedy.