Goa building collapse: toll goes up to 19; clearance of debris resumes

Panaji: One more body was recovered on Wednesday, bringing the toll in the Goa building collapse to 19, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). A six-storey building collapsed in Goa's Canacona around 3 pm on Saturday.

According to the police, a portion of Ruby Residency, located in the Chawdi ward of Canacona town, 60 kilometres from state capital Panaji, collapsed while nearly 60 workers were working there.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that the toll could go up to 29, even as rescue teams continue to sift through the debris for more survivors.

Clearance of the debris resumed after a temporary delay, which was caused due to a precarious tilt in an adjacent building. The government has ordered the demolition of three adjoining buildings as well as a set of duplex bungalows, which were of poor quality and were also threatening to cave in during the debris clearing operation.

Three government officials have been suspended in the case, and one arrested, Mr Parrikar said. He also added prima facie it appeared that bad quality of construction material and the fact that part of the foundation of the five-storeyed building was in soft untreated mud, could have caused the collapse.

Goa Police also registered offences against three people involved with the construction firm which built the structure.

A deputy town planner has been arrested, while a municipal engineer against whom a case has been registered seems to have absconded.