Four killed in Hyderabad building collapse

Hyderabad, Dec 9: Four persons were killed and eight others feared trapped when a multi-storey building under construction collapsed here late on Thursday, officials said on Friday.

Rescue workers retrieved four bodies on Friday morning and continued clearing the rubble more than 12 hours after the incident.

The dead include a woman and her daughter, both from Vijayanagaram, and a man from Chhattisgarh.

The labourers from Vijayanagaram district in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were asleep when the building collapsed.

Rekha, a construction worker from Chhattisgarh and her three-year-old son Deepak, were pulled out alive from the rubble and shifted to a hospital. Her husband is still missing.

The rescue operation continued through the night but gathered pace on Friday morning.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with police and fire fighting personnel took part in the rescue work.

Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao visited the site and announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia each to the families of the dead. He said the government would provide best medical treatment to the injured.

He said all efforts were being made to rescue those feared trapped under the debris.

The minister announced the suspension of a deputy commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corp (GHMC) and an assistant town planning officer.

He said the builder had no permission for construction and severe action would be taken against him and the negligent authorities. 

Police booked a case against the builder Satyanarayana, who is absconding.

GHMC officials said the G+6 storey building was being constructed in violation of all norms.

The building had come up on just 270 square yards. Officials said the builder was also constructing a penthouse.