15 killed as rains trigger house collapses in India

NEW DELHI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed Monday in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu after heavy rains lashed several parts, triggering house collapses and waterlogging, officials said.

The walls of houses collapsed at Nadur village in Coimbatore district, about 502 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

"This morning due to heavy rains in Mettupalayalam area several houses suffered damage and three collapsed completely," a local government official in Chennai said. "We are being told 15 people were killed in the house collapses."

Authorities have rushed disaster response force and police personnel to carry out rescue work at the spot and pull out bodies from debris.