10 killed, 20 injured in building collapse in Thane

At least ten persons were killed and 20 people injured, some of them seriously, when a portion of a four-storeyed building in Kalva of Thane district collapsed this evening, police said.

It could not be immediately ascertained how many people were buried under the debris, they said.

A joint rescue and relief operation by the police and fire fighters is on. Heavy rains since evening, however, are affecting the rescue operation, fire brigade officials said.

The 40-year-old building had developed cracks following tremors early this morning, police said, adding some of the inmates had shifted to other places fearing collapse.

The building had two wings with 16 tenements on each side, of which one portion came down, they said.