Apartment collapse: Four killed, five injured

Coimbatore, Oct 19 (UNI) Four people, including a woman, were killed and five others injured when a four-storeyed dilapidated apartment collapsed following heavy rain in the last few days near Ukkadam bus stand in the city, this evening.

Police said the more than 35-year-old Slum Clearance Board apartment, which comprised of 24 flats, collapsed, trapping people under the debris.

When the building began to collapse in the afternoon, the district administration started evicting the residents. Though a majority of the people were evacuated, some, who had gone to bring their personal belongings, might have been trapped, police said.

Rescue and relief operations, taken up by the police, fire force and revenue personnel, were hampered by continuous rains.

Tension prevailed in Ukkadam following the mishap as the area was predominantly inhabited by members of a minority community.

UNI