NEW DELHI: A dilapidated building and another under construction collapsed in India on Saturday, killing at least 12 people as rescuers searched for dozens of others feared trapped, police and fire officials said.

The collapse killed at least 11 people, and one survivor was being treated in a hospital, said fire service officer Praveer Haldiar.

Hours later, a 12-story building under construction collapsed on the outskirts of Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state, as heavy rains pounded the area. early 300 policemen and fire service workers were scouring the debris for survivors.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma told reporters an investigation into the cause of the collapse had been launched.

Haldiar said that rescuers would take some more time to clear the rubble after a day-long effort. Most homes in the area, inhabited by the poor people, have been built without proper sanctions and using substandard materials, Police officer Madhur Verma said.

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

“Rescue operations are still on and debris is being removed,” he added. The decades-old dilapidated building in a congested north Delhi neighborhood started crumbling on Saturday morning.

“This is a 40-year-old building. They have illegally built floor after floor,” Rajesh Bhatia, a senior municipal official told NDTV news channel.

The injured have been rushed to hospital while the government has ordered an inquiry into the the cause of the accident, PTI reported.

Building collapses are common in India, as lax regulations and the demand for cheap housing often spurs construction that uses substandard materials and adds unauthorized extra floors. Earlier this year more than 15 people had died in the western state of Goa when a residential building collapsed.

“Building collapse in Delhi brings forth need to adhere to safety requirements,” tweeted Vijay Goel, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.