NEW DELHI, 11 Nov

At least eight laborers were killed and several others injured after the roof of an under-construction building collapsed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, police said Wednesday.

The roof collapsed Tuesday evening in Jodhpur district, about 356 km west of Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.

"Late last evening, the roof of an under-construction building collapsed in Phase II of Basni industrial area here. Eight people were killed and several others were injured, some of them critically," a police official said.

Following the portion of building collapse, authorities initiated search and rescue operations to pull out laborers caught under the debris.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and described the death of laborers as "extremely unfortunate."

Reports said over 16 laborers were present in the building at the time of the accident.
The injured, according to officials, have been sent to hospitals.

It was not immediately known what caused the roof of the building to collapse. 

Xinhua