HUBBALLI: Mallappa was working in a shop inside the fourstorey under-construction commercial complex building in Dharwad when it collapsed at 3.50pm on Tuesday. “By the time I realised something was happening, it was dark. I thought I was dying. However, I was lucky as some people suddenly pulled me out from the debris. As soon as an ambulance arrived, people put me in. I’m relieved now as I have sustained only a few minor injuries,” he said.Shivangouda Naragund, 31, who was admitted to the casualty wing of the Civil Hospital , told TOI that he and a few others were working on the third floor. “I had no clue as to what happened; when I opened my eyes, I found myself buried in concrete. I somehow mustered courage and removed some debris and that’s when rescue personnel noticed my hand. Soon, police pulled me out. I could hear the cries of two other people and I informed others about it. They were also rescued. We were brought together to the hospital,” he said.Fire personnel rescue a personMohammad Gouse Yadgir, 18, a tile setter, was rescued by locals. He and his co-worker Mohammad Gouse Dharwad were having lunch, sitting in a compartment created using tile boxes on the second floor. He was half buried in rubble and suffered injuries as he fell on the boxes.Mohammad Gouse, a resident of Tipu Nagar in Hubballi , said he was caught between the tile boxes and was rescued by police. He has suffered injuries on his hand, leg and chest.Relatives of those stuck in the rubble are inconsolableJamil Khan of Hebballi Agasi of Dharwad, who was at the spot to meet one of his relatives, saved two persons stuck under the heap of rubble. He said police arrived at the spot immediately and locals were in the forefront of rescue operations.DCP Shivakumar Gunare said he and his team rescued at least 10 people.Basavaraj, an eyewitness, said he had anticipated this tragedy, but not this early. “As I am a civil engineer, I had noticed the sub-standard material being used for the construction of this building. The building started shaking and collapsed within 5-10 seconds. Because of dust, many thought it’s a plane crash,” he said.For Srikant Jamanal, a former corporator and JD(S) leader, who runs an office in the building, it was a narrow escape. He had gone out for lunch when the tragedy occurred. “As many shops and offices in the building were shut between 2pm and 4pm for lunch, many shopkeepers managed to escape,” he added.District civil surgeon Dr Giridhar Kuknoor said those struck in the debris can survive for two or more days if there is oxygen supply.Ullas Guanaga, PRO of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank and a resident of Kumareshwar Nagar, too had a providential escape. He was on his way to the office after having lunch.“I stopped my two-wheeler about 200 metres from the building to talk to a friend. Suddenly, I saw wooden poles fixed for centering on the building falling. I was wondering how dangerously they had put those poles and what would happen if they fell on passersby. Within seconds I heard a loud noise and the entire building came crashing down. We ran for safety, thinking it was an earthquake. There was dust all around and nothing was visible for sometime. After a few minutes, we saw the entire building grounded and we rushed to the spot. I alerted police and my bank officials. Everyone rushed to the spot within minutes and tried to help those trapped,” he added.

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