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Rangs Building collapse death toll rises to 3

December 10, 2007 00:00:00


Three workers were killed and 12 others injured as 11 floors of the partly demolished Rangs Bhaban- from 14th to 3rd floor- at the capital's Bijoy Sarani crossing collapsed Saturday night.
Meantime, the fire department stopped rescue operations at the collapsed building Sunday as the condition of the same was "too risky to continue", report UNB/ bdnews24.com.
Witnesses said the 14th floor caved in on to the 13th floor at about 10:45pm as the breakers were working on a total of eight floors - from 14th to 6th-of the 22-storey building, leaving 13 workers trapped under the rubbles.
According to a fire brigade official, with the collapse of the 14th floor, the other floors down to the 3rd floor also caved in one after another.
On information, firefighters and army rescue team rushed to the scene and recovered the body of a worker, Amirul Islam (28), from under the debris Saturday night.
But the bodies of two other ill-fated workers could not be recovered from under the rubble until 2pm Sunday.
The other 12 injured workers, rescued in critical condition from under the wreckage, were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and other hospitals in Tejgaon area.
Fire Service and Civil Defence trainer Debashish Bardhan said Associate Professor Dr Raquib Ahsan and Assistant Professor Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed of the BUET's civil engineering department visited the site and announced it too risky.
"The rescue operation has been stopped following the advice of Dr Raquib," he said.
Debashish said the BUET professors told the fire department that no work involving vibrations should be carried out inside the building.
"They fear further serious accidents may happen," he added.
Rafiqur Rahman, director general of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, also visited the spot, Debashish said.
Rangs General Manager (Corporate) Kutub Uddin briefed journalist on the building premises.
He said the court ordered demolition of Rangs Bhaban above six storeys, but did not order demolition of the first six floors.
In another report, the government will take action against the private firm, Six-Star, for the Rangs Building floor collapse, an adviser said on the day.
Housing and Public Works Adviser Mainul Hosein told the bdnews24.com by telephone: "The firm was awarded the job because of their experience in the field. Such an accident is not expected from an experienced company."
The adviser expressed his sorrows over the death and injuries to workers. "The injured will be given proper medical treatment," he said.
Meantime, the government Sunday formed a three-member committee to probe the Rangs Bhaban collapse.
The committee, formed with Chief Engineer Shah Alam and Deputy Chief Engineer of RAJUK, also a BUET teacher, would investigate the matter, Mainul told the newsmen.

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