IANS

Mumbai, Sep 4: At least 10 people, including four children, were killed when they they were buried in a landslide following heavy rains in this Maharashtra capital, officials said Friday.

At least 15 people were also injured Thursday night in the Lal Bahadur Shastri slums on a hillock in northeast Mumbai's Saki-Naka area.

According to an official of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) Disaster Control Room, nearly two dozen huts were buried in the landslide at 11.30 p.m. Heavy rains hampered relief and rescue work in the area that has been prone to landslides.

Five fire engines and eight ambulances rushed to the site and, with help from locals, were able to rescue about two dozen people trapped under the debris.

By morning, at least 10 were declared dead and several more were feared to be still trapped.

The dead have been identified as Sudhanshu Phatak (3), Yusuf Sheikh (42), Ayesha Parveen (26), Reshma Sheikh (18 months), B. Idris Shahadin (50), Supriya Khatun (16), Rubina Khatun (26), Rabia Khatun (45), Ashraf Sheikh Dana (11) and Shekhar (42).

Mumbai Suburban District (MSD) Collector Vishwas Patil, who rushed to the site early Friday, said the hutments were illegal and had been constructed despite repeated warnings to the people.

"The MCGM and the MSD had issued warnings in April, May and June. After the rains started, some of them went back and started staying there," Patil said.

The state government has announced compensation of Rs.100,000 to the families of the dead and relief ranging between Rs.25,000-50,000 for the injured, who have been taken to the Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar.

Minister of State for Home Naseem Khan - in whose constituency the affected areas fall - was on hand to supervise the relief operations whole night.

In July 2005, a massive landslide here had killed 78 people, following which Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited the affected areas.