A 7-storey newly constructed building collapsed in Pune early this morning with several residents, including a child, feared trapped under the debris.

A 7-storey newly constructed building collapsed in Pune early this morning with several residents, including a child, feared trapped under the debris.

Rescue teams, including that of the NDRF are already at the site and operations have begun.

An eyewitness told Headlines Today that cracks in the building were seen on Thursday night itself, but the builder dismissed them, saying the structure was safe.

"Cracks developed in the building last evening and we called the builder. He assured us nothing would happen. But at around 3 am this morning the building started shaking. We immediately evacuated but some people could not," the channel quoted the resident as saying.

Unable to locate the builder, the Pune police have now launched a manhunt in the city.

In September last year, a four-storeyed building collapsed in the Sahakar Nagar area of Pune, killing six people on the spot. The residential building was under construction.

In December, 13 labourers were killed when a slab of an under-construction building collapsed at Wagholi, about 20 km from Pune.