The rescue operation in Rampura tin-shed two-storied house collapse incident has still been underway on Thursday for the second consecutive day.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Abul Fazal Mir on Thursday afternoon told the reporters that the rescue squad would continue its salvage operation for the day.
“The collapsed structure will be removed on Friday.”
At least twelve people including four of a family died when the two-storeied house made of corrugated iron sheets collapsed into a water body in the capital’s Rampura on Wednesday.
Locals said the number of fatalities might climb as they feared that several residents might still be trapped underwater inside the collapsed structure.
One Saijul, who used to live on the first floor of the house, claimed that his nephew Ripon, 12, has been missing since the house collapsed.
Saijul told the Dhaka Tribune: “Ripon went outside around the afternoon for playing with his friend, who used to live on the ground floor. Since then, he is missing.”
“We have search for him everywhere and contacted all our relatives but failed to trace him till Thursday afternoon. We think that he might have buried under the debris of the collapsed house.”
Asked whether the rescuers traced any body inside the debris, the ADC replied: “No bodies has been found yet. The rescuers will search for the body of Ripon [if he buried under the debris] once the collapsed structure will be pulled up.”
Nearly 100 low-income people used to live in the poorly-built house that was erected using only bamboo poles over the muddy bed of the water-hyacinth-filled jheel or water body at Hajipara.
Anwar Hossain, acting deputy police commissioner of Motijheel division, said the owner of the house, Moniruzzaman, had gone into hiding soon after the incident.
Asked whether the building had been constructed legally, he said city corporation officials would have to look into this issue. However, the police would take necessary actions after the rescue efforts end, Anwar added.
The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the land where the house stood belonged to Bangladesh Railway, while Moniruzzaman – a Jubo League leader – had used his muscle power to build the house illegally over the water body.
Contacted, Rajuk Chairman GM Jainal Abedin Bhuiya said such buildings are often built illegally to house low-income people. Despite being aware of the existence of such structures, Rajuk was unable to take action as there was no resettlement system for the floating people.
Following the incident, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has formed a three-member probe committee.