Rescue teams on Sunday recovered 53 more bodies from the rubble of the Rana Plaza building which collapsed on April 24, taking the death toll in the Savar tragedy to 610. According to Army sources, 480 bodies have been identified so far and handed over to victims’ families while 26 have been kept in Adhorchandra High School playground for identification. Confirming the death toll and the handover of bodies, the Army control room said most of the bodies that have been recovered were decomposed. Many bodies were still trapped under the collapsed building, the Army added.
Among the bodies recovered, seven were identified as Malek, ironing man of Phantom Apparels, Shamima and Ojufa, sewing operators of the factory, helper Rahima, cutter man Swapan Sarker, Rita Rani and Rafique.
The rescuers said it was difficult for them and the victims’ relatives to identify the bodies as they were decomposed. The Red Crescent members tried to identify them from the available mobile numbers and identity cards.
Dhaka district additional magistrate Abul Fazal Meer handed over at least 33 unidentified bodies to the Anjuman Mofidul in the afternoon and the bodies were buried at the city’s Jurain graveyard.
The rescue teams conducted the second phase of the rescue operations, deploying heavy equipment, for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday.
Earlier, led by the army, fire service and Red Crescent workers recovered 28 more decomposed bodies on Saturday while 46 more bodies were found on Friday.
On April 24, the eight-storey building, which housed five garments factories, a branch of a bank and a market, collapsed in Savar bus stand area of Dhaka. Personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, fire services and Red Crescent Society are taking part in the rescue operations.
-With The Independent input
