Bangladesh building collapse toll nears 1,000

The death toll in Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster today rose to 953 as rescuers overnight pulled out over 100 more decomposed bodies from the debris of the ill-fated eight-storey building that collapsed last month.
Over hundred more bodies were retrieved since last night ... The figure now stands at 953, an official of the army control room told PTI as the military-led salvage operation entered the 16th day today.
He said 2,443 people were rescued alive so far but 13 of them succumbed to their wounds as they were being treated at different hospitals.
Hundreds of bodies are still trapped under the debris of the illegally constructed Rana Plaza as many continue to remain missing, local media reported.

It is still unclear how many people were in the building here in the suburbs of the capital Dhaka on April 24 when the structure, housing five garment factories, collapsed, a day after a huge crack was spotted by authorities.
The building owner Sohel Rana and five factory owners have been charged with causing death due to negligence and violating construction laws, charges punishable by a maximum seven years in jail.

Rana illegally added three floors and allowed the factories to install generators, police said.
Some of the survivors of the collapse alleged that the factory owners had forced them to work despite appearance of the crack on the building the day before it collapsed.

Yesterday, Bangladesh closed down 18 garment factories temporarily as part of its efforts to allay fears of international buyers and rights groups over safety and labour standards in the country's beleaguered apparel sector.