Death toll rises to 67 in New Delhi building collapse

[News_Editor]

Death toll rises to 67 in New Delhi building collapse

2010-11-16 22:05:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll has risen to 67 with at least 130 people being injured after a four-story building collapsed in New Delhi, India on Monday, officials said.

Local police officers said that on Monday, at around 8:15 p.m. local time, the 15-year-old building collapsed into Lalita Park area of Laxmi Nagar in the eastern area of the city due to a weakened structure because of the ongoing monsoon season bringing heavy rains to the region and flooding the Yamuna River into the area.

However, an illegal fifth floor was under construction over the building, which was being rented to migrant laborers. Residents in the area say around 400 to 500 people had been living in the building.

An official from India's Health Ministry confirmed the number of deaths and injured, but as the team of 250 rescue workers continue to clean out the area, it is believed that over 30 people are still trapped under the rubble.

"I regret the loss of life. In this area, there has been a lot of unauthorized construction," Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna said. "Builders don't pay attention to safety. This is the Yamuna bed, foundations have to be strong."

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit speaking to NDTV said "30 to 40 people are yet to be rescued. I think this disaster happened because of the carelessness of the builder. I will order an inquiry into the incident."

Local authorities have charged Amrit Singh, the building owner, of cupable homicide not amounting to murder. However, Singh fled with his family following the incident, and police stated that they are currently looking for him.

The injured were transported to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and Hedgewar Hospital.

A neighboring building was evacuated in order to avoid further accidents as officials explain it is also in risk of collapse.

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