2 killed, 40 trapped in India building collapse

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - At least 2 people were killed and over 40 people were feared trapped under debris as a four-story building collapsed in western Indian city of Mumbai on Tuesday, an official said.

Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was rushed to the site for a rescue operation.

"Relief and rescue operations are underway. Fire brigade, ambulances and municipal staff have been deployed at the site,” Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire officer, told Anadolu Agency.

"We heard a loud noise. Everybody shouted, 'building is falling, building is falling'. I ran. It felt like a big earthquake," a teenager who saw the building fall told local broadcaster NDTV.

"This building must be 90-100 years old. I saw the bodies of some children," another eyewitness told NDTV.

Building collapse during the monsoon season are quite common in India. On Sunday, at least 14 people were killed in a multi-storied building in Solan district of northern Himachal Pradesh state.