Four killed in Odisha building collapse

Four people, including two minor girls, were killed when a two-storey building collapsed Sunday in Odisha's beach town of Puri, police said.

The building, believed to be about 100 years old, was in a dilapidated condition and collapsed when about 10 people were sleeping inside.

Police promptly reached the site and launched a rescue operation with help from residents of the area. Puri is 55 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.

"Four females, including two minor girls, were found dead while six injured people were rescued," J.N. Jena, inspector in charge of the local police station, told IANS.

The injured were taken to hospital where one of them is critical, Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu said. Police have detained the house owner for questioning.

The state government announced compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the kin of each of those killed. Those who sustained injuries are being provided necessary treatment by the state government, free of cost.