Saturday, May 28 2005 17:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tiruchirappalli (TN): At least 12 persons were killed and over 20 injured when the roof in a section of a cement factory in Dalmiapuram near Tiruchirappalli, caved in this afternoon, police said.

Police said 12 bodies had so far been recovered, adding the number of casualties is likely to go up to at least 20.

The incident occurred around 13:15 hrs (May 28, 2005) in the stacker reclaimer division of the Dalmia Cement Bharath Ltd, about 45 km from Tiruchirapalli.

Police said the victims were labourers who were trapped inside when the new cast roofings part of the expansion process of the stacker reclaimer division caved in.

The freshly laid roof-concreting, of size approximately eight feet wide and 35 feet long, caved in when the masonry work was going on inside the 70-year-old cement factory.

The injured have been rushed to various hospitals near the factory.

Police and fire service personnel and the factory's security staff are engaged in the rescue operations.