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India building collapse near Mumbai kills 35 India building collapse near Mumbai kills 40
(about 2 hours later)
At least 35 people have died, including 11 children, after a building under construction collapsed near the Indian city of Mumbai, police say. At least 40 people have died, including 11 children, after a building under construction collapsed near the Indian city of Mumbai, police say.
Dozens have been injured and many others are feared trapped beneath the seven-storey building in Thane.Dozens have been injured and many others are feared trapped beneath the seven-storey building in Thane.
Police said the block was an illegal construction and building work was still going on even though four floors were already occupied. Police said the block was an illegal construction and building work was going on even though four floors were already occupied.
Building collapses are common with poor construction practices often blamed.Building collapses are common with poor construction practices often blamed.
The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan in Mumbai says a growing population and a lack of space has seen an increase in the number of high rises, but many builders fail to take sufficient safety precautions, or obtain proper permission to build. The BBC's Sameer Hashmi, who is at the scene of the accident, says rescue workers are still trying to clear the debris.
A police official in Thane, Maharashtra state, said a section of the building collapsed on Thursday evening, bringing the entire structure down. Bodies are still being pulled out and rescuers say they fear that many people are still stuck under the rubble, our correspondent says.
Rescue efforts continued throughout the night. Most people living in the building are from the low-to-middle income groups, he adds.
Witnesses say the construction of the building started just six weeks ago and in that time, seven floors were built rapidly and the eighth floor was under construction.
Even though the construction was incomplete, the builder had allowed families to move in, our correspondent adds.
On Thursday evening a section of the building collapsed, bringing the entire structure down, police said.
Rescue efforts continued throughout the night and dozens have been injured.
It is not yet clear what caused the collapse, but police inspector Digamber Jangale told the BBC it appeared to be due to the use of substandard building material.It is not yet clear what caused the collapse, but police inspector Digamber Jangale told the BBC it appeared to be due to the use of substandard building material.
At least four floors of the building had been completed and were occupied. Workers had finished three more floors and were adding an eighth floor when it collapsed, Mr Jangale said.
Most of the victims were construction workers who were staying in the building, he added. At least 69 people were injured.
Police said a case had been registered and an inquiry had begun and that they were searching for the builders to arrest them.Police said a case had been registered and an inquiry had begun and that they were searching for the builders to arrest them.
One witness, named only as Ramlal, said the building appeared to tilt before quickly collapsing.One witness, named only as Ramlal, said the building appeared to tilt before quickly collapsing.
"The building collapsed like a pack of cards within three to four seconds," he said."The building collapsed like a pack of cards within three to four seconds," he said.
In December, at least 13 people died when part of a half-constructed building collapsed in the Wagholi area of Maharashtra.In December, at least 13 people died when part of a half-constructed building collapsed in the Wagholi area of Maharashtra.
Last September, at least six people were killed when a building collapsed in Pune city in Maharashtra.Last September, at least six people were killed when a building collapsed in Pune city in Maharashtra.