In pictures: Deadly Mumbai building collapse
- Published
A half-finished building collapsed in the Mumbai suburb of Thane on Thursday evening, killing and injuring dozens of people.
Rescuers worked to find and free people still trapped under the rubble. At least 11 children are known to have died when the building collapsed.
This baby girl was dramatically rescued from beneath the wreckage of the building. Even though it was not finished, four floors were occupied by families, offices and an after-school tuition class.
It is not yet clear what caused the collapse, but police said it appeared to be due to the use of substandard building materials.
Authorities said they were searching for the builders and would arrest them over the incident.
Local residents helped rescuers throughout the night, using diggers and steel cutters to clear debris.
One witness said the building appeared to tilt before collapsing "like a pack of cards, within three to four seconds".
Local officials said the building was being constructed illegally, and the cause of the collapse would be investigated.
There have been a series of building collapses in India, where illegal construction is common.
Such high-rise buildings are being constructed because of a growing population and a lack of space, but many builders are failing to take sufficient safety precautions or obtain proper permission to build.
- Published5 April 2013