World

Building collapses in Mumbai, 2 killed

by Sanjay Jha | November 11, 2008 at 07:47 pm

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A five storeyed old run down building collapsed early morning at Mumbai's Crawford market. Mumbai Fire Brigade and other rescue workers are searching for the survivors. 6 members of a family are trapped under the debris of a five-storeyed residential building. 2 people have been killed.This area in the commercial capital of India has many of old building more than 100 years old and are in a poor condition. Many of these run-down buildings have been declared dangerous by local authorities but people are still living in them due to high real estate prices elsewhere.

According to the fire brigade workers at the spot, the building was old, but the reason for the collapse is still unknown.

The three lower floors were unoccupied, as they had been vacated earlier. Paying guests staying on the top floor fortunately did not return home last night. The other floors were occupied by the family of one Dr Faizan.

While he managed to escape unhurt, his wife, two children and brother Imran were not as lucky and are trapped under the debris. A stunned Faizan was repeatedly asking the fire brigade officials if they had managed to rescue his family.

According to Ali Azghar, an eyewitness, the back of the building, which housed the toilets, collapsed. "We heard a huge noise. When we came running, we saw that the building had collapsed."