At least six people were crushed to death when a four-storey building collapsed in India's financial capital of Mumbai on Tuesday, the latest incident to highlight poor construction standards in the country.
Rescuers pulled a dozen others out of the rubble alive, some seriously injured, after the structure gave way mid-morning in the northern suburb of Ghatkopar, officials said.
"The death toll is now six. We think around 15 may still be trapped and rescue operations are ongoing," Tanaji Kamble, a disaster management spokesman for Mumbai's civic administrative body, told AFP.
"Rescue work with the help of rescue gear is in process," said P.S. Rahangdale, chief fire officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade.
"Removal of the topmost reinforced concrete slab is in progress, as is a search for trapped persons inside the cavity."
Rahangdale said the ground floor of the building in Ghatkopar housed a nursing home, which was vacant, while the rest of the building was occupied by three or four families on each floor.
He said 14 fire engines, two rescue vans and eight ambulances were at the site.
A police official at the site said 12 people had so far been rescued.
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