Several relatives of the victims of Lalita Park building collapse on Wednesday protested against the filling up of the basement instead of digging it properly to ensure that there were no survivors or bodies. They claimed that despite being told about a body being spotted in the basement, the rescue workers went ahead with filling it up. The MCD officials present on the spot claimed that all necessary checks had been done.
However, the manner in which the rescue agencies were going about raised questions as a “weak basement” was supposed to have been the reason for the collapse. In case, the basement is filled up, it may be difficult for the probe agencies to get forensic evidence.
Arjun Kumar Singh, who lost his only four-year-old son, complained instead of digging up the basement to look for his missing son that the rescue workers were covering it up.
Several men and women, mostly relatives of the victims, shouted slogans against the police and tried to enter the cordoned off area but were stopped.
The MCD officials on duty, however, claimed that every care has been taken. “It was only after the sniffer dogs went around the site and special machines used to detect heart beats were used to scan the entire basement that the removal of debris started,” said an official, on the condition of anonymity. He added that a hole was dug up into the basement and sniffer dogs went inside to do a proper check.
Meanwhile, the authorities concerned asked for evacuation of the community hall close to the site of the building collapse, which had been a place of refuge for those affected for the first couple of days. On Wednesday, even as large number of them went to hospitals looking for their missing kin, the authorities asked people staying there to move out. A marriage function was also being held at the hall.
The tent they have put up is leaking. How can we stay in it at night, said a relative.