5-yr-old girl pulled out of rubble, unhurt

Fire brigade personnel pulled a five-year-old girl alive from the rubble of a five-storey apartment building that collapsed in Dockyard Road on Friday morning, killing at least six people.

A cheer went up from hundreds of onlookers as rescuers brought the baby out of a small tunnel in the rubble after three-and-half hours of marathon operation. It was a miracle of sorts as there was not a single injury mark on Bhagyashree Kamble’s body. The Kamble family had moved into the ill-fated building just 15 days ago from Andheri. Though her daughter survived the crash, Bhagyashree’s mother Kavita says the building was unlucky for them.

Mahadev Kamble, who works with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was a happier man 15 days ago when he got a officer’s quarter in the ill-fated building. Mahadev was staying in Mograpada Chawl in Andheri after his marriage. Bhagyshree is one of the youngest patients brought to the hospital along with her parents. “After basic check up, we found that there is not a single scratch or injury mark on her body. So, we didn’t admit her in the ward. We allowed her to stay with her mother. While Kavita had some burises on her body, Mahadev had suffered back injuries,” said a doctor.

“When we realised that the building was shaking, my husband immediately wrapped the bed around my daughter and me. We were stuck in the debris and I was holding my daughter on my chest. We were scared and we were praying to god. After three and half hours, fire brigade personnel rescued us. Though we managed to survive, I am feeling sad for my neighbours who died in the mishap,” said Kavita. “We were new to this place. Just 15 days ago, we were a happy family since we were moving from chawl in Andheri to an officer’s quarter. But this building was not lucky for us.”

In a miracle of sorts, a 9-year-old girl, Prachiti, was rescued after being trapped for more than 12 hours. Firemen  said her escape was miraculous and she had escaped with a few bruises. Prachiti was rushed to JJ Hospital for treatment.