India’s building collapse death toll reaches 60

NEW DELHI (AP) — The death toll in a building collapse in southern India has risen to 60 as hundreds of workers are close to clearing the massive ruins of the 11-story structure.

Police Inspector-General Sandeep Rai Rathore says 27 people have been rescued since the weekend from under the enormous heap of broken concrete slabs, twisted iron girders and concrete dust in one of the worst building collapses in India in decades.

Rathore says the excavation is likely to be completed on Friday.

Police have arrested six construction company officials for alleged criminal negligence and violation of building codes. Authorities are investigating the cause of Saturday’s collapse in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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