Dharwad building collapse: 4 rescued alive, toll reaches 14

DHARWAD: Friday proved to be lucky for four persons who were trapped in the debris of the commercial complex in Kumareshwar Nagar of Dharwad. They were rescued by the NDRF team safely, 65-70 hours after they were stuck.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the disaster rose to 14 with the NDRF retrieving the dead body of two persons identified as Subbanna Neeralaktti (68) of Vikas Nagar in Dharwad and Anup Kudtarkar, son of Prakash Kudatarkar who owned the cyber café.
Sangamesh Ramanagouda (24) of Chikkaulligeri village in Savadatti taluk of Belegavi district, Sangeeta (35) and her husband Dileep Kokare (40) and Honnamma (45) a labourer from Bellary were lucky survivors as they were rescued alive.
With this the number of people rescued so far rose to 61.
The NDRF team which on Friday had speeded up the operation using more of machines traced a youth shouting for help from the debris. They had started the operation to rescue him and finally succeeded in getting him out alive. Sangamesh who was working in the office of former corporator of JD(S), was happy and cheerful and he just walked out of the tunnel and jumped into the waiting ambulance. It was he who indicated that a couple was alive inside the debris and needed to be rescued.
The NDRF and Fire Services staff immediately started working on the clue and established contact with Dileep Kokre who was also stuck. Dileep informed that his wife Sangeeta was also stuck and he would not come out until his wife was also rescued. Rescuing Sangeeta had become difficult as a huge concrete pillar had fallen on her leg causing serious injury. But after relentless efforts, the NDRF succeeded in rescuing both at about 1 PM. They were rushed to the ICU in district civil hospital for treatment. Doctors said both were stable but exhausted. Sangeeta has suffered fracture in her leg and needs more time to recover.
Both Dileep and Sangeeta hailing from Kokkrewada village on Haliyal road were working as casual labourers in the building.
After finding three persons alive even on the fourth day of the disaster, the NDRF was cautious in using the earthmovers and cranes. By around 4 PM they learnt that one more woman stuck in the debris was alive. Working on the clue, they successfully rescued Honnamma (45) from the debris by 5.30 PM. Hailing from Bellary Telugu speaking Honnamma had come to Dharwad to work as a labourer. She was rushed to the district civil hospital. Doctors said her condition was stable but she had suffered a fracture in her right ankle.
The operation will continue on Saturday also, the authorities said.