Seven dead, many missing in West India building collapse

At least seven people died and about 20 were still missing after two multi-storey buildings collapsed in the west Indian city of Vadodara early Wednesday, a local official and media said.

 

Fourteen people were rescued alive from the rubble, official Vinod Rao told local broadcaster NDTV.

 

After the first block collapsed at around 4:30 am (2300 GMT Tuesday), residents in the next-door building were evacuated, the Times of India reported. The second block collapsed 20 minutes later.

 

Building collapses occur more frequently in South Asia following the heavy rains of monsoon season. Other buildings in the housing complex in Vadodara showed cracks and evidence of water damage, local media reported.

 

- Sapa