Death toll in India building collapse rises to 42; rescuers say no more voices heard in rubble

NEW DELHI – Rescuers in India pulled another 13 bodies from the ruins of a collapsed building on Wednesday, bringing to 42 the death toll since the weekend with slim chances of finding more survivors.

Twenty-seven people have been rescued so far, including seven on Tuesday, from under the enormous heap of broken slabs, twisted iron girders and concrete dust in a suburb of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state.

Police Inspector-General Sandeep Rai Rathore said that rescuers haven’t heard any more voices from the debris since Tuesday. But he hasn’t given up hope yet. In the past, survivors were still found nine days after a building toppled.

Nearly 90 contract workers were in the basement collecting wages when the 11-story building under construction collapsed Saturday night.

Hundreds of rescuers, wearing hard hats and breathing masks, were likely to continue searching at least two more days, Rathore said.

Police have arrested six construction company officials for alleged criminal negligence and violation of building codes. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Building collapses are common in India, where high housing demand and lax regulations have encouraged builders to cut corners, use substandard materials or add unauthorized floors.