Toll in Thane building collapse mounts to 72

The number of people died from the collapse of an illegal seven-storey building in Thane, near Mumbai, rose to 72 as rescue operations ended on Saturday, more than 40 hours after the half-constructed building collapsed on Thursday.

The tragedy left another 62 injured even as rescuers pulled out a woman and a 10-month old baby from the debris on Friday.

Rescuers using cranes, bulldozers and gas cutters, used camera equipment to locate those trapped under the debris.

The building, mostly illegal, was constructed using sub-standard material and shoddy construction methods, local residents said. 

The building, which was in a forested area in Thane, was used to accommodate low-paid labourers at low rents and most of the dead are labourers and others with low incomes.

Reports quoting Sandeep Malvi, a spokesman for licensing authority, the Thane Municipal Corporation, said the building had been constructed using poor materials and without proper approvals.

Unscruplous builders are taking advantage of the sharp rise in property prices in Mumbai and its extended suburbs by selling unauthoried constructions to gullible investors at cheaper rates.

The deputy municipal commissioner of the area has been suspended following the collapse, which the state chief minister said was due to the building being built illegally.

Police are searching for the builders, who would face charges of culpable homicide for causing the disaster.