More bodies have been pulled from the debris of a collapsed building near India's financial capital Mumbai, bringing the death toll to 20, police say.
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The three-storey residential building in the congested Bhiwandi area collapsed early on Monday while most residents were asleep. More than 60 people were estimated to be in the building at the time.
There were nine children among the dead, local police official Maloji Shinde said. Rescue operations were continuing with the help of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF).
At least 20 more people could still be trapped in the debris, an NDRF official overseeing operations was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper.
Local police said the building was over 35 years old and needed repairs but that the residents had not vacated the building despite being served notice.
Building collapses are common in India, usually due to shoddy construction, substandard materials and disregard of regulations. Many of these accidents occur during the monsoon season.
Australian Associated Press
