5 killed, many feared trapped in India building collapse

Rescue teams have pulled out bodies of five people from debris of a seven-storyed building in southern Indian city of Hyderabad, officials said Friday.

Over a dozen workers and their families are reportedly trapped under the debris.

The building collapsed on Thursday night in Nanakramguda suburb.

"Today morning a woman and a six-year old boy were rescued alive from the site and sent to a local private hospital for treatment," an official said. "Until this evening five bodies were retrieved."

The teams of National Disaster Response Force, state police, fire services and officials from local administration, besides locals are making efforts to rescue the trapped workers.

Rescue teams have pressed in earth movers, gas cutters and other equipment to trace the trapped ones.

Reports said the victims (workers and their families) residing inside the under-construction building were hailing from Indian state of Chhattisgarh and neighboring Andhra Pradesh.

Officials said violation of rules have been noticed in the construction of the building.

Police officials have registered a complaint of negligence against the building owner.

Deadly accidents due to failing infrastructure (either new or old) is common in India. Construction experts blame the lax administration and corruption in India for flouting building rules that often results in using poor quality materials, inadequate supervision, poor safety standards for workers. Endit