Chennai bldg collapse: death toll rises to 42

The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction 11-storeyed building near suburban Porur climbed to 42 today, a senior state government official said. Of the 42 deceased persons, 28 were men and the rest women, Director of Public Health K Kulandaisamy said. A total of 69 persons have been pulled out from under the debris of the collapsed structure by rescue personnel since Saturday when the mishap occurred, he said, according to a news agency.