Mumbai: At least six minors, including three toddlers, were killed and five others injured when a five-storey building, constructed in violation of rules, collapsed in suburban Bandra on Thursday afternoon, Fire Brigade said.

The injured were taken to Bhabha Hospital, Bandra where Aayesha Akbar Khan (12), Ali Nisar Ahmad Khan (3), Osama Nisar Khan (14), Afipha Sadab (1), Rasuda Nisar Ahmad Khan (16) and Aribi Nisar Khan (2) were declared dead before admission. Abdul Shaikh (34), Islam Shaikh (12), Daulat Shaikh (50), Zulfikar Khan (18) and Shakhia Nisar Ahmad Khan (34) were being treated for injuries, said the officials at the Disaster Control Room of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Eleven persons were pulled out of the debris by the Fire Brigade rescue team. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been deployed at the spot.

The illegal structure stood on a railway land along Anant Kanekar Marg, near National School, in Behrampada area of Bandra East. A portion of the building - constructed in a shoddy manner - across the first four floors, crashed. Five fire engines, a rescue van and two ambulances of Fire Brigade were rushed to the spot. Eleven persons were pulled out of the debris by the Fire Brigade rescue team. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been deployed at the spot. A search-and-rescue operation was underway as a few more persons are feared trapped under the debris, BMC officials said.

PTI