Two women killed in Mumbai building collapse

Two women were killed and four other people were injured when a seven-storeyed unoccupied building collapsed here Friday morning and the debris fell on an adjoining slum, officials said.

The dead women have been identified as Sudha Sridharan, 32, and Chandaben Patel, 50, according to BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) control room.

Three of the four injured - Sita Kesarkar, 60, Akshay Kesarkar, 18, and Rohini Jagtap, 47 - were admitted to a hospital.

According to Mumbai fire brigade officials, a large portion of the dilapidated building, Aaraam Society, fell on an adjoining slum area and besides the dead and the injured some more people are believed to be trapped under the debris. The building was located in Vakola area of suburban Santacruz.

The Catherine Chawl in the slum with around three dozen hutments took the hit as the 35-year-old building, which was evacuated a few months ago, came crashing down.

Relief and rescue operations were continuing with 12 fire tenders having rushed to the site with the personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force and police.