Raigad, Maharashtra: As per the latest report,  at least six people died after a building collapsed in a residential area of Mahad in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Monday evening. So far, 78 people have been rescued from the debris, authorities said this morning. The rescue operation has been continuing for over 15 hours.

The victims were identified as Sayyed Samir (45), Naveed Zamane (35), Nausin Nadim Bangi (30) and Aadi Hashim Shaiknag (16) and one female body is yet to be identified.

Tarique Garden, not more than 10 years ago, was a ground-plus-four structure. Around 40 families resided in the building. At 6.50 pm Monday, the top three floors collapsed. Some residents managed to escape before it came down.

Three groups of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and 12 teams of the fire brigade are at the spot. 

Home Minister Amit Shah described the incident as “terrible” in a tweet on Monday and said that he has spoken to SN Pradhan, the chief of the disaster response force to give all possible help. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he was saddened by the incident, and prayed the injured recovered soon. “Saddened by the building collapse in Mahad, Raigad in Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their dear ones. I pray the injured recover soon. Local authorities and NDRF teams are at the site of the tragedy, providing all possible assistance,” he said in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Visuals from this morning indicated the rescue teams at the spot. In a video tweeted by the NDRF, sniffer dogs were also observed helping the officials. Another footage shows the area around the spot covered in a huge dust storm as a part of the building collapsed to the ground. 

Meanwhile, the Raigad Police Tuesday registered a case under Sections 304, 304 A, 337, 338 and 34, against five persons.