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Called to a Collapse, a Rescuer Learns His Father Is Among the Dead
When duty and loss collide on the same site
Friday’s collapse at the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection in Redcliffe has left KwaZulu-Natal reeling. What began as a routine concrete pour on a four-storey structure under construction turned into a devastating rescue scene. By Saturday, authorities confirmed that five people had lost their lives.
Among them was Jayseelan Perumal. His death carried an extra weight for those on site. His son, Devan Perumal, is the operations manager at Reaction Unit South Africa and was part of the response when the building came down. He later learned that one of the victims recovered was his own father.
A community built around a temple
The temple was more than bricks and scaffolding. For years, it has been a gathering point for worshippers in Redcliffe, a place shaped by volunteers, donors, and devotees who poured their time into its expansion. Those who died reflect that sense of community.
Vic Panday, the founder of the temple, was among the deceased, as were senior devotee Vasudev Prabhu and local farmer Kishore Haribhujan. The fifth victim is believed to be a 42-year-old construction worker who was on-site during the pour.
Residents have spoken about how the loss cuts across generations, faith groups, and working lives in the area. Social media tributes over the weekend focused on service, humility, and the shared shock of seeing a familiar place reduced to rubble.
A rescuer who stayed on the line
Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa confirmed Jayseelan Perumal’s death and publicly commended Devan Perumal for continuing to work alongside fellow rescuers despite his personal loss. In emergency services, this kind of resolve is spoken about quietly rather than celebrated, yet many in the community have described it as a stark example of duty under unimaginable strain.
Rescue teams resumed operations early on Saturday, carefully combing through debris to ensure that everyone was accounted for. The atmosphere on-site has been described as heavy but focused, with teams working methodically amid grief.
A separate medical emergency during the rescue
During the ongoing operations, a separate incident added to the sombre mood. A 64-year-old male devotee suffered a heart attack while visiting the site. Emergency responders, including provincial ambulance services, RUSA teams, metro police, private medical services, and Gift of the Givers Foundation medical personnel, attempted resuscitation.
Despite extensive efforts, the man could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that this death was not linked to the structural collapse itself.
What happens next
Rescue teams remain on site, and a formal investigation into the cause of the collapse is underway. Questions around construction processes, safety checks, and oversight are expected to follow, particularly given that the building was mid-pour when it failed.
For Redcliffe, the days ahead will be about funerals, answers, and rebuilding trust. The image of a son working through the wreckage, unaware at first that his father was among those trapped, has come to symbolise the human cost behind the headlines. It is a reminder that in moments like these, tragedy is never abstract. It lives in families, friendships, and places people call their spiritual home.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: MSN
