Five-story building collapses amid monsoon season in western India

USPA News - A five-story building in western India collapsed on Monday evening in the region`s second day of heavy monsoon rains, local authorities said. The residential building located in Mahim in central Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra, had its rear portion collapse at around 8:30 p.m. local time, as heavy rains continued to pour down in the city.

Dozens of people were trapped under the rubble, while around 20 were rescued from the part of the building that remained standing. Of those pulled out alive from the debris, medical officials said a 76-year-old individual identified as Zaibunnisa Lakha later died at Bhabha Hospital. Only one death had been confirmed, but a senior fire brigade official told the Times of India that the death toll could still rise, as search-and-rescue operations are carried out. Following the loud crash, local residents rushed outside in the middle of the heavy rains to begin rescue work before fire brigades arrived. Workers have also knocked down some other portions of the building that were heavily damaged in order to avoid further casualties. Despite the building being in somewhat old and in need of urgent repairs, residents of the building said no government warning had been issued.