Videos from the collapse site show hundreds of locals surrounding the collapsed building
Highlights
- Under-construction building collapses in Karnataka's Dharawad
- 1 dead, nearly 40 feared trapped; 15 labourers rescued
- Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy instructs the injured be airlifted
Three people have died and nearly 15 are feared trapped after an under-construction building in Karnataka collapsed on Tuesday. Fifteen people have also been injured out of which three are critical.
The collapse took place in Dharwad's Kumareshwar Nagar, about 400 kilometres north of Bengaluru.
Hospitals in the district have been placed on alert and 20 ambulances sent to the accident site, said Dharwad's top medical officer Giridhar Kokinad. Fifty six labourers have been rescued so far.
Videos from the collapse site show hundreds of locals surrounding the collapsed building.
According to local reports, construction had been going on in the building for the last two years and work was ongoing on the third floor. The first two floors had around 60 shops that were functional. Some reports suggest about 150 people were in the shops when the structure crashed.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy says he has instructed the Chief Secretary to supervise rescue operations. He has also instructed that the injured be airlifted if required.
"Shocked to learn about the collapse of an under-construction building in Dharwad. I have instructed the Chief Secretary to supervise rescue operations. I have also directed the CS to send additional resources and expert rescuers by a special flight to Dharwad," he tweeted.