At least five people died after two buildings - one
residential and the other under construction - collapsed in India's
southern city of Bengaluru on Wednesday, police said.
Eight people were pulled alive from the debris of the buildings in
the area of Pulakeshinagar as the rescue and relief operations were
under way.
"The three-storey residential building, in which five to six families
lived, collapsed apparently after earth at its foundations shrunk.
The adjoining under-construction apartment also crashed soon after,"
an officer at the police control room said.
Among the victims was a 3-year-old girl, police said.
The rescued had
been moved to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Police, firefighters and personnel from the disaster response force
were carrying out operations at the site as some more people were
believed to be trapped.
The foundation and construction of both buildings were not in
accordance with norms, Bengaluru mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun said,
according to local media.
City officials will demolish both buildings and take action against
the builders and architects, Mallikarjun added.
Fire and rescue personnel look for people trapped inside the collapsed building. Photo courtesy: The News Minute