At least 10 people were killed and several others injured and over two dozen were feared trapped after a three-storey building crashed in the power-loom town of Bhiwandi, around 60 km north of Mumbai, early on Monday, officials said.
Among the deceased, there are four minors and the injured have been rushed to hospitals in Kalyan, Dombivali, Kalwa and Thane.
Sources informed that around 25 persons, including an infant, have been rescued safely although 12 have suffered injuries from the crash.
The 40-year-old Jilani Building, which is said to be in a dilapidated condition, is located in the Patel Compound.
The building suddenly came crashing down around 3.45 a.m. catching all the victims unaware in their sleep.
As per the locals, the building was in a poor condition and had been served notices by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation, but those were ignored.
Moreover, there were unattended problems of leakages and seepages which may have weakened the structure located in a congested locality of the town.