The death toll in a building collapse in south Mumbai's congested Dongri locality has risen to 13, the NDRF said on Wednesday, even as rescue and search operations in the rubble were still on.
"So far, 13 people, including six males, four females and three children have been declared dead, while nine have got injuries and are getting medical treatment," Sachidanand Gawde, the PRO of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalion, told PTI.
Gawde said the search and rescue operations continued the whole night and were still on. "It (search and rescue operations) will go on till the last piece of rubble is removed from the spot," he said.
The official said his team members had been told that there were few customers at an eatery situated in the ground floor and no one knew the exact numbers. "So our job is still left to rescue those men," he said.
In a statement, Mumbai Fire Brigade chief P.S. Rahangdale said two kids—one aged between six-eight and the other aged about four—were rescued from under the debris by the firefighters.
"Both kids were sent to Sir JJ hospital in 108 Ambulance, but they were declared dead," Rahangdale said, adding one fireman was also injured in the line of duty.
Mumbai Police had made lighting arrangements to carry out rescue operation in the night. It has so far registered an ADR into the mishap and will launch a detailed inquiry.
An official from the BMC Disaster Management Cell said three more bodies had been recovered early on Wednesday morning and had been sent to a nearby hospital, and doctors' reports about them were awaited.
"The death toll is likely to go up further," he said.
The state government has, so far, not announced compensation to the victims.
Local MLA Amin Patel will meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday afternoon to demand a hefty compensation and speedy rehabilitation for the victims.
