Death toll in Hyderabad building collapse rises to 13

With the retrieval of one more body from the rubbles, the toll in the allegedly illegal under construction building collapse at the busy Narayanguda area here rises to 13, officials said.

One body was retrieved late last night... With this the toll in the mishap rose to 13, Hyderabad District Collector Navin Mittal told PTI.

Six others, who sustained injuries, were being treated at different hospitals in the city, he said. Meanwhile, rescuers today pulled out a man, working as a watchmen of the building, from the debris, he said.

"Eighteen hours after the building collapsed, Mallaiah was rescued. He miraculously survived the incident," the Collector said. No more survivors or bodies were visible under the rubble, the rescuers said.

At least 12 persons, mostly construction workers and a 18-month-old child, were killed when the five-storey building adjacent to a school collapsed yesterday.

Construction work was going on "illegally" when the building crashed. Three Town Planning officials were suspended in this connection, officials said.

The government ordered an inquiry into the mishap and also announced a compensation of Rs2 lakh each for the kin of those killed in the incident. The Hyderabad City Police have booked a case in this regard and investigations are on.