Death toll rises to 17 in building collapse in India; little hope of finding survivors

PANAJI, India – Rescuers have found two more bodies under a massive pile of broken concrete left when a residential building collapsed in southern India over the weekend, raising the death toll at least 17 workers.

Local legislator Ramesh Tawadkar says rescuers have so far recovered 23 survivors, pulling the last from the wreckage late Sunday in the state of Goa. But there was little hope of finding any more people alive in the rubble two days after the collapse.

Police said Monday they were unable to determine how many workers were on site when the five-story structure, which was under construction, crumpled Saturday because they could not reach the builder or contractor, who are suspected of fleeing.

Building collapses are common in India, with builders cutting corners by using substandard materials.