HUBBALLI: “All I heard was a loud sound and debris started falling all over the place. I was on the ground floor and saw a table in the room. I quickly took shelter under it even as debris kept falling. Dust was all over and it took me sometime to realise that the building had collapsed on us,” recalls Rehman Kudgi, who was the first one to be pulled out from the debris by rescue team members.
Rehman was working as a porter at the Railway parcel office for many years.
“I was not injured but I was not sure if I would be able to crawl out safely. I tried pushing some debris in front of me but could not. I heard loud screams from the people who were standing outside and I decided to check my mobile. I was lucky that there was enough charge in my cellphone and I called my friend. He immediately informed the rescue team and they called to ask my condition. They kept talking asking me not to panic,” he said.
“Though the rescue team was able to contact me they still had no idea where I was. I kept shouting and was finally pulled out of the debris,” said Rehman, who hails from Kusugal village.
“I thanked God for giving me a second chance and I hope there are more survivors,” he said.
Another lucky survivor, Basavraj Kuniyar, a constable attached to Railway Police Force, lost consciousness after he was stuck in the debris. One of the rescue team members sighted him during the removal of debris and he was brought out to safety. He was on the first floor when the building collapsed.
Both Basavraj and Rehman are being treated at the Railway Hospital.
“I was about to leave for lunch. When the building fell, at least three or four of my colleges were inside the police station,” he added.