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6 Apr, 2013 12:22

Miraculous survivals as death toll in Mumbai building collapse climbs to over 70 (PHOTOS)

Miraculous survivals as death toll in Mumbai building collapse climbs to over 70 (PHOTOS)

Indian rescuers have finished the search of the collapsed building in Mumbai that killed at least 72 people. A woman was rescued after 36 hours trapped under the rubble, while a 10-month-old baby girl was pulled out alive after 29 hours.

The girl, whose identity could not be verified, was immediately taken to hospital and is said to be doing well.

"We have named her Gudiya [doll] because she looks like a doll,” one of the hospital staff told NDTV.

He added that according to one of the patients, the girl’s mother and aunt were still trapped in the rubble. The chances they will survive are, however, low. On Saturday – after 42 hours of search – the rescue operation was proclaimed over.

In another, even more astounding tale of survival, a four-year-old was pulled out after spending more than 40 hours under the debris.

An excavator clears the debris at the site of building collapse in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai on April 5, 2013. (AFP Photo / Punit Paranjpe)

On Thursday evening an eight-story building, which was still under construction, collapsed in the Mumbai suburb of Thane.

There were between 100 and 150 people in the building at the time of the accident. Dozens were trapped by the debris. As of Saturday the death toll has reached 72, including 17 children.

It is unknown what caused the accident, but police reported the building had been constructed illegally. Authorities are currently looking for those in charge of construction works.

There are over 2,000 illegal structures built in the area where the building collapsed, the municipal spokesman said.

Building collapses are commonplace in India as builders try to save on constructing materials and neglect safety rules.

Resue officials and disaster management staff bring out a body from under the rubble and debris at the site of a building collapse at Mumbra in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai on April 6, 2013. (AFP Photo / Indranil Mukherjee)

Sandhya, 4, a survivor of a building collapse, recovers at a hospital in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai on April 5, 2013. (AFP Photo / Punit Paranjpe)

Resue officials and disaster management staff stand on top of the rubble and debris at the site of a building collapse at Mumbra in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai on April 6, 2013. (AFP Photo / Indranil Mukherjee)

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