NEW DELHI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the building collapse in India' financial capital Mumbai Thursday has risen to 21, while 34 others including four firemen were injured, reports said.
The local media quoting health officials at J J hospital said death toll has risen to 21.
Rescuers have pulled several people alive from the collapsed building and are digging into the debris to find out trapped ones.
On Thursday morning at around 8:45 local time, a six-storey building collapsed on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road in Mumbai's busy Bhendi Bazaar area.
The building in the densely populated locality was believed to be about 117 years old.
Following the collapse, authorities rushed police, fire brigade personnel and disaster response force personnel to the spot to carry out rescue work.
According to locals, 11 families were residing in the building, besides a sweets shop running from the ground floor.
On Tuesday, Mumbai city experienced the heaviest rainfall in the last 15 years, triggering flood-like situation and water logging. The downpour caused disruption in road and rail traffic, following which authorities issued an advisory to people urging them to stay indoors.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the site of the collapsed building and announced a compensation of 7,800 U. S. dollars for the families which have lost members in the accident.
Meanwhile Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the deaths in the incident.
"Collapse of a building in Mumbai is saddening. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers with the injured," Modi wrote on Twitter.
In July, 17 people were killed in a building collapse in Ghatkopar, an eastern suburb of Mumbai city.
Deadly accidents due to failing infrastructure, either new or old, are common in India.
Construction experts blame the lax administration and corruption for flouting building rules, which often result in using poor quality materials, inadequate supervision and poor safety standards for workers.
