India, Aug. 1 -- Several residents of Kohinoor Apartment in Bhiwandi who managed to escape the crash on Thursday night said urgent repair work carried out by the contractor after cracks appeared in the structure on Thursday evening prompted them to stop evacuating the building, but eventually cost them dear as it collapsed barely three hours later, killing at least 10 people.

Ramvilas Ram, a powerloom worker who survived the crash, said the pillars supporting the B wing of Kohinoor Apartment were in a dilapidated state as the cement and mortar had fallen away, exposing the iron rods inside. Around 8:30pm on Thursday, residents noticed a gaping crack in the building and began evacuating it, fearing it might collapse any time.

"But a shor...