New Delhi: A devastating "pancake" collapse of buildings in Myanmar following the recent earthquake has complicated rescue efforts, with India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovering 16 bodies from the debris so far, officials said on Tuesday.

Specialist teams from the NDRF are deployed across 13 buildings under the 'Sector D' rescue strategy in Mandalay, working under challenging conditions in the search for survivors, officials overseeing the operation from India said.

According to an NDRF statement, its personnel are carrying out coordinated rescue efforts in Mandalay alongside Myanmar’s fire services, particularly in areas where individuals have been reported missing due to structural collapses.

"As of April 1, 2025, 16 bodies have been retrieved and rescue operation is ongoing," the statement confirmed.

Despite the difficulties, rescuers remain hopeful of finding survivors. Officials recalled how, during the 2023 earthquake response in Turkiye, a survivor was pulled out alive on the 17th day after the disaster struck.

The structural failure in Myanmar has resulted in buildings collapsing in layers, with floors caving in on one another. This has made search operations particularly difficult, as rescue teams must cut through heavy concrete slabs and shift massive amounts of debris to locate possible survivors.

Experts note that in cases of tilted collapses, chances of survival are higher, as void spaces can form, allowing people to remain trapped but alive. The ‘golden hours’—the critical window for successful rescues—are more favourable in such scenarios.

To enhance search efforts, the NDRF has deployed four trained sniffer dogs capable of detecting human presence, even if victims are unconscious. The team has also been instructed to assist local authorities in distributing aid to those affected.

India dispatched an 80-member NDRF contingent to Myanmar following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28.

Reports from Myanmar, citing Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the country's military government, indicate that 2,719 people have died, 441 remain missing and approximately 4,500 others have sustained injuries.

In response to the humanitarian crisis, India launched 'Operation Brahma’, delivering emergency relief including medical supplies, food and tents via military aircraft and naval ships to the quake-affected areas.

India and Myanmar share a 1,643-km-long border, underscoring the geographical proximity and strategic importance of India’s aid mission.

PTI