The death toll in the hotel building collapse in Secunderabad rose to 10 while 16 others were injured even as officials speeded up operations to pull out those trapped in the debris, police said.
"The number of dead has risen to 10 and at least 16 others who suffered injuries were rushed to hospital," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Zone) R Jaya Lakshmi told PTI.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, along with ministers Danam Nagender, Geeta Reddy and Mukesh Goud, visited the collapse site and also Gandhi Hospital where the injured were undergoing treatment.
The two-storeyed Hotel City Light and Bakery, located on RP road in Secunderabad, crashed at around 6 am on Monday.
The deceased include hotel staff and also customers who went to have tea, officials said.
Police, officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, fire department and CISF personnel were involved in relief and rescue operations to clear the debris and pull out the trapped people.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, who was monitoring the rescue efforts, said at least 20 persons saved from the debris were rushed to Gandhi Hospital.
It was still not clear how many persons were present in the hotel when it collapsed, he said.
"...as a precautionary measure we are taking the help of experts in removing those trapped under the debris," the Hyderabad police chief said.
Some people were still feared trapped in the kitchen wing debris of the hotel, he added.
Eye-witnesses said they saw the building collapse suddenly with a loud sound and heard the cries of people seeking help to be removed from the debris.
GHMC commissioner M T Krishna Babu, who was also at the site of the accident, said there were several old buildings in the area and notices had been served in this regard to their owners.
It was being verified if the ill-fated building was also in this list, he said.
