11 injured as building collapses in Palakkad

At least 11 people were injured after a three-storey building near the municipal bus stand complex in Palakkad town collapsed on Thursday.

Thirteen people including two women were rescued from the debris in rescue operations led by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel, police and personnel in disaster response teams along with locals.

The injured were admitted in the Palakkad District Hospital and two of them were discharged by evening. The incident happened at 1.15 pm.

Minor construction activities were on in the 40-year-old building when the incident happened. Four hours after the rescue operations commenced, officials said the possibilities of more people being trapped in the rubble were remote.

The condition of people injured in the incident is not serious.

Preliminary reports said shifting of a concrete pillar during maintenance work taken up in the building could have triggered the collapse. The building housed a lodge on the top floor and about eight shops including mobile phone outlets.