Tags:
Journalism of Courage
JULFIKAR ALI MANIK & JIM YARDLEY
In a startling development,a woman trapped for 17 days beneath the rubble of a collapsed building on the outskirts of Dhaka was discovered alive Friday and then rushed to a nearby military hospital after rescuers pulled her free.
The woman,whose name is Reshma,had apparently been in the basement of the building,possibly in a Muslim prayer room. Rescuers said they were clearing debris Friday afternoon when they saw a pipe moving. It turned out to be Reshma,shaking the pipe from below,trying to gain attention.
Save me! rescuers say they heard her shouting.
The stunning discovery transformed what had been an especially gloomy day in the recovery effort,as the death toll pushed past 1,000 victims. More than 3,000 people were believed to be working at five clothing factories in the building,Rana Plaza,when it collapsed on April 24 in what is now considered the worst disaster in the history of the garment industry.
One of the rescuers said that Reshma had discovered food and water that had lasted until two days ago. He told reporters that Reshma was given saline and biscuits before rescuers removed her from the wreckage.
