Sensex down 64 points in opening trade on profit-booking

STAFF WRITER 9:32 HRS IST

Mumbai, Nov 16 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by almost 64 points in opening trade today amid profit-booking and a mixed trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 152.80 points in yesterday's volatile session, fell by 63.92 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 20,245.77 points at the start of trade, with realty, capital goods, banking and technology sector stocks leading the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also declined by 21.35 points, or 0.35 per cent, to an early-low of 6,199.25.

Brokers said a fresh bout of selling by funds and retailers after the previous session's gains, coupled with a mixed trend on other Asian bourses, weighed heavily on the trading sentiment.

In other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was trading lower by 0.39 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei was up by 0.

Toll in building collapse mounts to 66

STAFF WRITER 11:56 HRS IST

New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI) The four-storey building collapse in East Delhi has claimed 66 lives and left 130 injured in one of the worst such disasters in the capital, as massive rescue operations were today on to pull out those trapped under the debris.

"66 people have died and about 130 are injured and admitted to various hospitals of the capital with a major chunk being at the LNJP," Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said.

41 bodies have been taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), 16 to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, six to Hedgewar Hospital and three to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

Over 60 families, mostly labourers from West Bengal, were living in the cramped quarters of the 15-year-old building, where an illegal fifth floor was under construction.

The entire structure came crashing down around 8.15 PM yesterday at Lalita Park in Laxmi Nagar.