India building collapse: ‘Scores trapped’ in Chennai

Posted on Jun 29 2014 - 5:33pm by IBC News

Most of those trapped under the rubble are thought to be workers from a neighbouring province

More than 100 people are still feared trapped after a building collapsed in southern India, an official has said.

At least nine people died and several were hurt when the 12-storey building under construction toppled in Chennai in heavy rain late on Saturday.

Hours earlier, a four-storey building came down in the capital Delhi killing 10 people including five children.

India has seen frequent building collapses, many blamed on lax safety and substandard materials.

Rescue teams with cutters and shovels are continuing to search for survivors in the rubble in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state.

“There are approximately 132 labourers who are under the debris and approximately 100 of them belong to southern Andhra Pradesh province,” joint collector Rekha Rani told Reuters news agency.

At least 26 people have so far been rescued. It is not clear whether Mr Rani was speaking before the rescues took place.

A police investigation has also been launched.

 

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