National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) workers stand as power shovels clear debris at the site of a building that collapsed in Canacona, in Goa.
Rescue operations at the site of the building collapse in Cancona town of south Goa were halted this afternoon after two adjacent five-storey buildings tilted precariously, even as 17 bodies were pulled out from the caved-in structure. At least 12 people are still untraceable.
The six-storey building was coming up in Chawdi area of Cancona town, 70 km from state capital Panaji. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the rescuers were asked to pull out since they faced danger from the debris.
An FIR has been registered against the builder Vishwas Desai and contractor Jaideep Saigal. The builder and the contractor are untraceable, police said. Mr Parrikar said the Deputy Town Planner and two municipal engineers have been suspended. The officials will be arrested soon, Mr Parrikar said.
The state government has announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of the dead and formed a three-member panel from Goa Engineering College to investigate the incident.
"The rescue operation has been stopped as two buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure tilted, raising fears that they will cave-in," a senior fire and emergency department official said today.
The constant drilling in the debris led to weakening of the adjacent buildings, fire officials said.
The adjacent buildings showing signs of tilting are also five-storey residential structures which are partially completed and were being constructed by the same builder.
Sixteen people were admitted to state-run Hospicio Hospital in Margao and Goa Medical College and Hospital near Panaji.