By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : One person was killed and at least two were injured as a portion of a 50-year-old building near the railway station here collapsed Monday. Several people were trapped inside the structure which was being renovated.
Those trapped include some workers from Assam.
Local legislator V.Sivan Kutty, who was at the site, said the rescue operations were being hampered because heavy equipment could not be moved to remove the rubble.
“Police officials say that 10 people are trapped inside the collpased structure. Heavy equipment is waiting outside but cannot be moved to the accident site because the portion of the building that collapsed is inside. Moreover, the condition of the remaining part is also bad, and hence rescue operations are seriously hampered,” Kutty said.
Meanwhile, the fire brigade, police personnel and the local people have begun manual rescue operations and have so far rescued two workers, who have been taken to the hospital.
State Transport Minister Jose Thettayil and Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran are also overseeing the rescue operations.