Building collapses in Mumbai, many trapped under debris

2013-06-10 387

A portion of a five-storey residential building collapsed in Mumbai on Monday (June 10) as fire officials and locals rushed for rescue operations, with most residents still feared to be trapped under the rubble.

According to locals and eyewitnesses the residential building, located near the Mahim shrine in Mumbai, collapsed around 8:15 pm local time (1445GMT)

"This was a five-storey building and this accident happened around 8:15 pm (local time) at night. I was at my friend's place, which is the adjoining building, close to a shrine. We heard a huge noise and we thought an accident had taken place. When we got out to see there was a lot of dust, I thought there has been a blast but when the cloud of dust cleared we found that a building had collapsed and people were trapped inside," said Shehzad Khan, a local.

Media reports suggested that nearly 20 people were trapped under the rubble of cement and steel, but locals said that around 100 residents lived in the building