2 die as India building collapses

Two people have been reportedly killed after a portion of a two-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi on the outskirts of Mumbai during early today, reports NDTV.

Authorities claim that the building located at Hanuman Tekadi locality on the Kalyan road was in a dilapidated condition and a notice has been sent in this regard.

Three families were living in the building. Around 6 people are still trapped under the debris. One person has been rescued so far. Authorities claim that those trapped belong to a single family.
Regional disaster management cell (RDMC) chief of the Thane Municipal Corporation, Santosh Kadam said disaster control teams from Thane and Kalyan were rushed to the spot immediately upon receiving an alert, while local firemen were also pressed into action. An NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team has also been called.

Rescue and relief operations were underway, he said, adding that details of exact number of families residing in the building are yet to be ascertained.
According to Bhiwandi tehsildar, Vaishali Lambate fire brigade personnel have rescued four persons from the debris. She said the building fell under "dangerous building" category and it was a "very old" ground plus two-floor structure.

Occupants of the building were also served evacuation notices by the civic body, the official added.

This is second incident of building collapse in the town in one week. Eight people had died when a three-storey building collapsed in JB Nagar on July 31.