HUBBALLI: Five people including a woman police constable died when a dilapidated building came crashing down at Hubballi railway on Monday.
Three other people, including a woman and her child, are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams continued to clear the debris to extricate them right into the night.
About 15 people were present in the building when the roof caved in. They were injured and are being treated at the KIMS and Railway Hospitals.
Three of the injured persons are said to be in a critical condition.
An eye-witness said he heard a loud thud and turned to see the building crumble. The roof began to cave in first and then the pillars gave way. Some of the occupants managed to escape just in time.
The 90-year-old, two-storeyed building housed the railway parcel unit and the railway police station.
The building was in a dilapidated condition, and was considered unsafe. The Railways authorities were petitioned to to vacate but they took no action or precautionary measures.
The deceased persons were identified as Salim Eeti, Timma Reddy, M Galappa, Kailash Rajani and Dakshayini Chennappagowdar, all from Hubballi. They were brought dead to the Railway Hospital on Gadag Road.