Two buildings have collapsed about 40 km east of India’s capital, New Delhi, killing at least three people with several still trapped in the debris.
A search operation to rescue an unverified number of people, who were trapped after an under-construction building collapsed on a neighbouring smaller one in India killing at least three people, is continuing.
The accident took place in Greater Noida in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh late on Tuesday when a six-storey building collapsed on an adjoining four-storey building, said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) spokesperson Basant Pawde.
“Four NDRF teams and a dog squad also are part of the search and rescue operation. The rescue operation has gained pace since the time sun has come out as we faced some obstacles in the night due to the darkness,” said the spokesperson, adding that three bodies have been retrieved by the rescue teams.
Ajay Pal, Police Superintendent of Gautam Budh Nagar, the district where the accident occurred, told EFE that the number of people trapped under the rubble remains unknown.
“Some people (neighbours) are saying that only 1-2 families were living in the four-story building and rest of the floors were empty,” according to Pal.
The six-storey building was under construction, he confirmed, and added there were no labourers living inside the building.
“It is also unclear as in which building fell first. As there was a lot of dust, people could not even identify as to which one of them fell first,” he added.
Building collapses are common in India, often owing to the precarious state of infrastructure, poor maintenance, corruption, and illegal practices in the construction sector.
In May, 15 people were killed and another 12 were injured after an elevated, under-construction bridge, also in the state of Uttar Pradesh, had collapsed.

source: news.com.au