A three-storey building on the outskirts of Mumbai collapsed early in the morning. Residents slept inside and eight people were reported dead, local reports said.

About 20 to 25 people are trapped inside the building in Bhiwandi, National Disaster Response Force chief Satyapradhan tweeted. Monday.

An official told the AFP news agency that about 40 emergency workers had arrived at the scene, including 30 rescue workers from the NDRF.

The accident took place in Bhiwandi, 40 km (25 miles) from Mumbai, around 3:40 am local time (22:10 GMT on Sunday), local officials said.

Images aired on NDRF’s official Twitter page show emergency workers hanging electrical wires over their heads through concrete and brick debris.

Television footage showed rescuers climbing a ladder, approaching someone inside, and deploying dogs to search for survivors.

Video: The building was searched on Monday morning. Police said a search and rescue operation was underway# Bhiwandi BuildingColplus pic.twitter.com/QO7qfZ4jai

– TOI Mumbai (OTOIMumbai) September 21, 2020

A spokesman for the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation quoted ANI, India’s Reuters partner, as saying.

The building was on the list of dangerous buildings, citing Pankaj Asia, commissioner of the Bhavandi-Nisampura City Municipal Corporation.

At least 13 people were killed last month when a five-storey building collapsed in the industrial city of Mahad, 165 kilometers (100 miles) south of Mumbai.

In 2017, more than 1,200 people were killed in building collapses across the country, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

Source:
Al Jazeera and news agencies