Panaji: At least 13 people were killed as an under-construction five-story residential building collapsed in Cancona town of Goa Saturday afternoon.
Ruby Residency, being constructed by Bharat Realtors and Developers, crashed at around 3 pm.
Eyewitnesses said the structure, coming up on a busy road, crashed like a pack of cards.
In view of the slow pace of rescue work, the state government sought help from the Army. Two Army platoons are taking part in the rescue operation now.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters late in the evening that so far 23 people had been extricated from the rubble and among them 13 were dead.
"Builder has told the police that more than 40 workers were on the site when the structure crumbled," he said.
Unconfirmed reports said that over 100 people were trapped under the debris.
Rescue workers using cranes and bulldozers, shovels and bare hands, struggled to shift concrete slabs and other debris to free the workers as hundreds of onlookers stood watching the rescue efforts.
Fire and emergency services crews rushed to the spot and the chief minister said military reinforcement had been called in.
"We will immediately arrest the builder, the contractor and municipal officials involved in sanctioning this construction site," the chief minister said. "I am personally monitoring the situation," he added.
DIG O.P. Mishra said police have registered complaint against the builder, the contractor and others concerned with construction.
Parrikar was in the vicinity of the town (which is about 70 km from Panaji) to attend a state-sponsored folklore festival, and rushed to the site when the news came. The festival was cancelled.
Bodies were sent to a state-run hospital in Margao town. Medical aid is being provided in Cancona.
