IANS
 
Coimbatore, Oct 20: At least 13 people, including five women and a young boy, were killed on Friday when an old building here collapsed following heavy rains.

Rescue operations are on and authorities said the toll could increase as it is not known how many are trapped under the debris of the 40-year-old building in Ukkadam.

At least 10 people with injuries are being treated in Coimbatore general hospital.

The building is in a government housing colony of the Slum Clearance Board near Ukkadam bus stand, in the heart of the textile city, about 600 km south west of Chennai.

Reports said 24 families lived in the four-storey building, which had begun to develop major cracks this morning.

The authorities were informed at about 11.30 am of the precarious nature of the building and there was a plan to evacuate the building.

However, by 3 pm, the roof and walls caved in, trapping people inside.

Coimbatore and its neighbourhood have been experiencing heavy rains for the last three days. The downpour Thursday night was particularly heavy. The rains continued till 6.p.m., Friday impeding rescue operations.