Narrow lanes make locals do the rescue work

Thousands of relatives of victims of Chandni Mahal building collapse thronged to LNJP hospital as soon as the news of the building collapse spread. As the building was located in narrow lanes, the rescue operation was hampered. It was the locals who carried out the rescue operations and cleared the debris.

Thousands of relatives of victims of Chandni Mahal building collapse thronged to LNJP hospital as soon as the news of the building collapse spread. As the building was located in narrow lanes, the rescue operation was hampered. It was the locals who carried out the rescue operations and cleared the debris.

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"We saw the news on TV and reached the spot within minutes. Four of my family members, who lived in the building, were injured. Two of them have succumbed to injuries. My niece Tabassum died while her father and brother are critical," Mohammad Arif, Tabassum's uncle said. Her grandmother Fatima also died in the incident.

The relatives of the injured created ruckus at the hospital as they were not allowed inside. "I had gone to take water from a nearby pump when I heard the sound of something falling down. When I looked back, I saw the building collapsing. My relatives got trapped," Firoza, a resident of Chandni Mahal said.

After the incident there was complete blackout in the area and locals made arrangements of generators to carry out rescue operations. Another victim, who died is identified as Munni Devi. "She is a vegetable vendor and used to sleep on pavement next to the building. She got trapped under the debris," Rakesh, another local said.

Doctors at the hospital said they are allowing in only one relative of the injured. The bodies will be handed over to family on Wednesday after completing the paper work. Rescue operation was on till the filing of this report and police are suspecting more people might be trapped inside.

A case against the contractor and owner of the building has been registered.