Nine families were thought to have been living in the structure

MUMBAI, India - At least 18 people died on Thursday when a building collapsed in India's financial capital Mumbai following heavy rains that have wreaked havoc in many parts of South Asia.

A dozen others were pulled from the rubble of the fourstorey residential building, which gave way around 8:40 am in the densely populated area of Bhendi Bazaar.

"Eighteen people have died. Another 12 have been admitted to hospital," said Vijay Khabale-Patil, a spokesman for Mumbai's civic authority.

Officials estimated that up to 40 people could have been caught up in the disaster. Khabale-Patil said rescue operations would go on into the evening.

Ambulances rushed the injured to the nearby J.J. Hospital in the south of the city while locals joined a 43-member National Disaster Response Force team in picking through piles of debris in a desperate hunt for survivors.

It is thought that eight or nine families were living in the building, which had been marked for demolition as part of a $600 million redevelopment project that is replacing hundreds of ramshackle, decades-old low-rise buildings with around a dozen glitzy new tower blocks.

Distraught residents said they rushed to the scene of the collapsed structure after hearing a loud crash.

"There was a huge noise and we all came running," said Naseem Mogradia, who lives two lanes away.

Shahid Khan, 52, said he didn't know whether his friend and seven family members who lived on the ground floor were alive or dead.

"I am just trying to help with rescue operations," he said.

Building collapses are common in Mumbai, especially during the monsoon season from late June to September, when heavy rains lash the western Indian city.

Severe downpours began on Tuesday and caused flooding across Mumbai and the neighboring region of Thane.

The collapse came as officials said the death toll from the floods was expected to rise above 10, despite the waters receding after better weather.

Meanwhile, air and railway traffic in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi have also been affected after heavy rains hit the city, local Urdu media reported.

Dunya News reported that heavy rains, coupled with gusty winds, hit the city on Wednesday and inundated roads and the public transport network.

The airport was also closed due to the bad weather.

The rains hit the country two days before the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha and a large number of people working in Karachi were planning to travel to their hometowns.

The rainwater also inundated several low-lying areas and damaged buildings were reported in several areas.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum said a large number of fishermen have been trapped in the sea as the forecast of heavy rains was not shared with them by the authorities in advance.

It was the second bout of heavy rain to hit the country over the past 10 days.

At least 22 people were killed in an earlier spell on Aug 20.

Xinhua - Afp