One person was killed and at least 100 people feared trapped in the debris of a five-story building that collapsed on Monday in an industrial town in western India, officials said. The collapsed structure comprised 47 flats, police in the town of Mahad — 120 km south of Mumbai in Maharashtra state — said in a statement, according to media reports. Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the collapse and the number of casualties, but about 30 people were pulled out by rescue teams and local residents. TV channels showed footage of the debris with locals and police trying to reach the trapped people. The TV footage also showed at least one ambulance leaving the area as people surrounding it made frantic phone calls. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has assured the local administration of all possible support for speedy rescue and relief work, his office said on Twitter. "CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray spoke to MLA @BharatGogawale and Collector Nidhi Chaudhary to inquire about the building collapse in Mahad. He has assured them that all possible support will be extended for speedy rescue & relief works," Thackeray's office said in a tweet. Three teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been moved to the site, the NDRF said in a statement. India's Interior Minister Amit Shah also expressed concerns over the incident and said that he has spoken to the director-general of the NDRF and asked him to extend all possible to the state government. "The collapse of a building in Raigad, Maharashtra is very tragic. Have spoken to DG @NDRFHQ to provide all possible assistance, teams are on the way and will be assisting with the rescue operations as soon as possible. Praying for everyone's safety," the interior minister said in a tweet. The opposition leader in the state assembly and the former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also tweeted, saying: "Shocked to hear about the building collapse incident at Mahad (Raigad) where many are feared trapped. Praying for everyone's safety." — Agencies
