Jalandhar: Nearly seven people have died so far in the Jalandhar factory collapse and rescue operations are still on at the site.
A little boy, Manu sits red-eyed anxiously waiting for some news of his younger brother who is trapped under the rubble of this collapsed factory. He spoke to Manu a few times through his mobile, desperately pleading for water until the battery died. However, as hours tick by, Manu's hopes are dimming.
"Many people are still trapped inside. We called him up on the mobile, but later, the calls stopped going through. The phone went out of coverage area," says Manu.
Chemicals and dyes used in the factory mix with the dust, forcing rescue workers to don safety mask, even as they desperately search for survivors.
As the hours go by, the urgency is mounting. The attempt is to get more survivors out.
The tragedy appears to have at least spurred the Punjab government to finally initiate the long overdue safety analysis of industrial buildings and factories.
The factory's owner, Sheetal Vij has been arrested and sent to police remand.
It is still too early to fix the final toll. Officials say there could be 20 more people trapped in the rubble, but eyewitnesses put the figure as high as 100.
Heavy machinery have been called in, but the clearing operations could continue for another day.
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