The major equipment that the firefighters are using in the ongoing rescue was donated by the US government only a month ago.

"We received those during last month's training for a post-earthquake rescue,"Parimol Chandra Kundu, fire service assistant instructor, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Admitting that the equipment is not enough for rescue efforts in such a massive collapse, he said, adding, "Even this operation would not be possible had the US government not given us the equipment."

The firefighters are using a rescue rotary saw, tripping hands, a drill, a spade, a vibrator, a reciprocating saw and a crane besides handy tools.

Forty-eight firefighters, who received last month's training, have been engaged in the task.

"Although 17 have successfully completed the training, all 48 are doing the main job of the rescue here," he said.

Firefighters said the operation would take 10 to 12 days unless the manpower and equipment are increased.

The rescuers are currently using only eight searchlights during the rescue work at night.

"A handy search light, a personal rescue search light, a smoke vision camera, a gas detector, heavy vibrators, large cutters and a tower crane are must for such works. But we don't have these," Parimol said.

"If we had tower cranes, we might remove 5 to 10-ton slabs at a time. We're now cutting it to pieces for removal."

The rescuers said they could remove only seven to eight percent of the total debris. "We've removed only one of the nine floors," Parimol said.