Delhi building collapse death toll rises to 5

New Delhi, July 19 : Rescuers on Sunday frantically searched for possible survivors in the debris of a building that collapsed here overnight, even as the death toll rose to five.

A five-storey building came crashing down at Vishnu Garden in west Delhi Saturday night, instantly killing three people. A police official Sunday said 13 people were also seriously injured.

"Rescue work is being carried out jointly by the fire department, police and residents," a police official told IANS.

Delhi's Public Works Department Minister Satyendra Jain announced an ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh for next of kin of those killed and Rs.50,000 for the seriously injured.

"A magisterial probe has been ordered to find out the actual culprit," Jain said at the site on Sunday. He said the report would be submitted in a week.

Police suspect the building, located in a narrow lane, was illegally built.

The National Disaster Relief Force is also involved in the search for possible survivors, Jain said.

Delhi Fire Services chief A.K. Sharma told IANS the rescuers were looking for one more person in the debris.

"We are not winding up our rescue operation right now as people believe there may be one more casualty," he said.

IANS