Over 60 killed, 80 injured as building collapses in east Delhi

A five-storey residential building collapsed in Lalita Park in New Delhi's Laxmi Nagar area on Monday evening. At least 60 people have died and 80 others have been injured in the accident. More than 30 people are still believed to be trapped in the rubble. (AFP Photo)

Rescue operation continued throughout the night.

Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia was at the building collapse site to assess the situation. (AP Photo)

According to eyewitnesses, at least 400-500 people were staying in the building which collapsed at 7.30 pm on Monday.(AFP Photo)

There is no confirmation on how the building collapsed but according to locals, the basement of the building was filled with water and some construction work was going on which further weakened the base of the building. (AFP Photo)

The injured were admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash, Lalbahadur Shastri and Hedgewar hospitals. A special team of doctors has been assigned to treat the injured at all the three hospitals.

According to Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia, at least 20 ambulances were pressed into action to carry the injured to various hospitals.(NDTV Photo)

Speaking to NDTV, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, "30 to 40 people are yet to be rescued. I think this disaster happened because of the carelessness of the builder. I will order an inquiry into the incident."

Dikshit also added that mobile phones have been heard ringing under the debris.

Locals also claimed that construction of an extra floor was going on when the incident took place. (NDTV Photo)

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Police said an adjoining building also faced risk of collapse and hence people have been evacuated from it.

Huge mounds of concrete slabs and rubble were seen all around as rescuers, helped by the local residents, faced a tough task extricating people from the debris. ( AP Photo)

Eyewitnesses said they heard shouts for help from under the debris. Locals complained that power cut and absence of cranes hampered the rescue efforts initially. A 250-member disaster management team was helping in rescue efforts. (NDTV Photo)