One person has died and nearly 40 are feared trapped after an under-construction building in the southwest Indian state of Karnataka collapsed on Tuesday (Mar 19).
reshwar Nagar, about 400 kilometres north of Bengaluru, reports NDTV adding at least 15 people have also been injured.
Hospitals in the district have been placed on alert and 20 ambulances sent to the accident site, it quoted Dharwad's top medical officer Giridhar Kokinad.
At least three excavators could also be seen aiding rescue efforts. Fifteen workers have been rescued so far.
Videos from the collapse site show hundreds of locals surrounding the collapsed building.
According to local reports, construction had been going on in the building for the last two years and work was ongoing on the third floor. The first two floors had around 60 shops that were functional. Some reports suggest about 150 people were in the shops when the structure crashed.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he has instructed the chief secretary to supervise rescue operations. He has also instructed that the injured be airlifted if required.
"Shocked to learn about the collapse of an under-construction building in Dharwad. I have instructed the Chief Secretary to supervise rescue operations. I have also directed the CS to send additional resources and expert rescuers by a special flight to Dharwad," he tweeted.