OVER 50 KILLED IN DELHI BUILDING COLLAPSE

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- At least 50 people were killed and over 70
injured when a five-storey building in the capital collapsed last night,
officials said.

Extensive search operations are underway amid fear that up to 40 people could be
trapped under the debris.

The tragedy took place on Monday night in the heavily congested Lalita Park in
Laxmi Nagar in the eastern part of the capital.

According to early investigations, authorities suspect the old residential
building had caved in after its structural foundation was weakened by the recent
August monsoon in Delhi.

"The scale of the tragedy is unprecedented. I don't think such a tragedy has
taken place in Delhi in recent past," Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit told
the media at the tragedy scene, reported Press Trust of India (PTI).

Local media reported that some illegal construction works were also in progress
in the building and many workers were killed during the collapse.

Rescue operations reached the scene late as ambulance cars and cranes found it
hard to navigate the crowded narrow lanes.
-- BERNAMA