At least five have been rescued after the collapse of a three-storey building on Saturday in the Talwandi area of Rajasthan's Kota, with about 20 feared trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations are ongoing in the area, with the injured immediately rushed to the Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Initial reports say that the building, which housed a restaurant as well, collapsed in a crowded area. As a result, details about the exact number of people trapped under the debris, as well as possible casualties, are currently unknown.
"There is a possibility that several people are trapped. The police and administration reached the site promptly, and rescue operations are underway. Some people have been pulled out," said Local MLA Sandeep Sharma said, soon after reaching the spot. He added that the building had collapsed quite suddenly.
"I have been told that there is one casualty," Rajasthan's education minister Madan Dilawar told ANI, expressing sorrow at the "unfortunate incident".
Police teams quickly arrived at the scene after learning of the tragedy. The entire area has been cordoned off to control the crowd and smoothen rescue efforts. Ambulances, fire brigades, and disaster relief teams have also been called in.
Various teams are carefully uncovering the debris in search of those trapped underneath. Heavy machinery is being used with caution in order to avoid inflicting further injuries to those trapped.
The cause of the building collapse is not yet clear. Officials have said that a full investigation will be conducted after the rescue and relief operations are completed.