Lack of safety support slows rescue operation
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Rajuk has so far failed to rescue labourers trapped inside the wreckage of the Rangs Bhaban, the city developer's chief engineer Manwarul Islam said Monday.
As Rajuk attempted search and recovery of trapped workers Monday morning, a portion of the basement ceiling crumbled prompting the rescue workers to stop their work.
"Strictly speaking, in the circumstances the rescue operations in the highly risky building should begin with putting up safety supports in each floor, starting in the basement first," the chief engineer said.
Putting up weight-bearing supports in each floor would avert any more accidents or casualties, Manwar added.
All rescue operations had been suspended Sunday after the building was declared 'highly risky'.
Fire service and civil defence trainer Debashish Bardhan told the bdnews24.com that rescue activities would start again with assistance from a construction company to put up sufficient supports on each floor.
The ceiling of the 17th floor caved in Saturday night killing at least three people and trapping a number of workers under the rubble.
The Supreme Court in a verdict on August 3 ordered the top 16 storeys of Rangs Bhaban-the corporate headquarters of Rangs Group-to be dismantled, ruling that these were illegally raised.
The demolition began a day after the verdict, engaging hundreds of workers for job.
There is a ban on construction of any high-rise above six storeys in the locality of Rangs Bhaban, as it happens to be contiguous to Tejgaon airport.
Starting in 1989, the controversial 22-storey building took 10 years to complete.
As Rajuk attempted search and recovery of trapped workers Monday morning, a portion of the basement ceiling crumbled prompting the rescue workers to stop their work.
"Strictly speaking, in the circumstances the rescue operations in the highly risky building should begin with putting up safety supports in each floor, starting in the basement first," the chief engineer said.
Putting up weight-bearing supports in each floor would avert any more accidents or casualties, Manwar added.
All rescue operations had been suspended Sunday after the building was declared 'highly risky'.
Fire service and civil defence trainer Debashish Bardhan told the bdnews24.com that rescue activities would start again with assistance from a construction company to put up sufficient supports on each floor.
The ceiling of the 17th floor caved in Saturday night killing at least three people and trapping a number of workers under the rubble.
The Supreme Court in a verdict on August 3 ordered the top 16 storeys of Rangs Bhaban-the corporate headquarters of Rangs Group-to be dismantled, ruling that these were illegally raised.
The demolition began a day after the verdict, engaging hundreds of workers for job.
There is a ban on construction of any high-rise above six storeys in the locality of Rangs Bhaban, as it happens to be contiguous to Tejgaon airport.
Starting in 1989, the controversial 22-storey building took 10 years to complete.