Dubai: Six workers, including five Indians and a Pakistani were killed and the same number injured when a building under construction collapsed in Sharjah, police said.

Rescuers battled for several hours to free the workers who were trapped under the debris in al Dhaid, 55 kms East of Sharjah yesterday (Feb 1, 2004).

The injured have been admitted to al Dhaid hospital. One of them was in serious condition and has been shifted to the Kuwaiti Hospital.

The roof of the Government youth centre building collapsed on top of the workers due to weak scaffolding. Sharjah police said it would take legal action for negligence.

The five Indians who were killed in a roof collapse in Sharjah have been identified.

They include Jasun Singh, Jasun Singh, Rajendar Singh, Youquob Khan, Krishna all Indians and Alangir, a Pakistani, the Gulf News said. Two Indians have the same name.

The paper said police rescued Soyash, Khan Seraj, Mohammed Abdul Washid and Riyadh Khan all Indians and two other Pakistanis from the debris.

The tragedy has raised questions about safety for construction workers at such sites.

In August 2002 nine workers were killed and 19 injured when a roof under construction collapsed in Jebel Ali. Earlier the same year, the dome of another building in Sharjah collapsed during construction claiming five lives and injuring seven workers.

In another accident in Dubai Dry Docks, in March 2002, more than 25 workers were killed when seawater flooded the ship repair facility.

More than a million Indians work in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).