About 20 more people are feared trapped in the rubble at Shahberi village. Both buildings are illegal because they did not have the requisite construction permission.
Eight bodies, including a one-year-old's, have been recovered from precariously hanging debris after a six-storey under-construction apartment block fell on a same-height, occupied structure in Greater Noida near Delhi on Tuesday night.
About 20 more people are feared trapped in the rubble at Shahberi village. Both buildings are illegal because they did not have the requisite construction permission.
Police have arrested four people, including one who sold his land for the constructions, and two real estate brokers. An FIR has been lodged against 24 people for crimes including criminal negligence. Police teams have been formed to nab other accused.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 160 men in four teams for relief and rescue operations that remain complicated.
Sniffer dogs, sensors and cameras were used to find others trapped. Two hydraulic cranes and six earth-moving machines were also pressed into service.
"We were halfway through dinner when we heard a loud sound. It seemed to be an earthquake. We saw only dust everywhere. We saw the top floors collapsing," said a neighbour.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a probe into the tragedy and negligence.
The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration also ordered a magisterial inquiry under ADM Kumar Vineet, and asked him to submit a report within 15 days.
Several senior ministers, police officials and the NDRF Directer General visited the site where there is a risk of more debris falling because it is unstable collapse.
Chief Fire Officer Arun Kumar Singh said at least 12 construction workers were around when the freak accident took place. All of them are feared trapped.
Sources said the collapse took place at around 8:30 pm, apparently due to heavy moisture in the walls of the basement and poor construction material used.
"Four people have been arrested and an investigation is underway. Both criminal and administrative aspects will be investigated. I have set up a magisterial inquiry under ADM (executive) and have given them 15 days to submit a report," District Magistrate BN Singh told reporters.
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