Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Mar 26: With the recovery of three more bodies during the rescue operation on Monday morning, death toll in the crash of an under-construction building at Kumareshwara Nagar here rose to 19. As all the bodies have been retrieved, the rescue operation has come to a close.

The rescue operation had been continued, as mortal remains of works manager of the building, Sahadev Salunke and workers, Vaghu Jore (35) and Navalu Jore (21) brothers, had not been found till Sunday evening. They were found on Monday morning. During the rescue operation lasting 143 hours, 54 people were rescued.

111 personnel of National Disaster Response Force, 32-member SDRF team, 240 firemen, 120 BSF personnel, 800 people from different forces, 120 city corporation employees, 60 revenue, 80 home guards and 150 health department officials continuously took part in the operation. Their work came in for lavish praise by deputy commissioner of the district, Deepa M.

Those who were retrieved from the debris except one have been treated and discharged. One person is in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The government has decided to provide counselling service to people who have become mentally drained after getting trapped under the debris for several days.

Accused in the case, construction engineer, Vivek Pawar and owners, Ravi Sabarada and Mahabaleshwara Puradagudi, were presented at the court on Monday. They have been remanded to police custody till March 27. Two other owners, Ganganna Shintri and Basavaraj Nigadi, have got admitted into hospital, complaining of ill health. They are likely to be produced in court on Tuesday.