Rescue personnel perform a search operation after a roof of a shelter at a cremation ground collapsed, in Ghaziabad, India, on Sunday. AFP

Gulf Today Report

At least 18 people attending a funeral in northern India were killed when a roof they were sheltering under during heavy rainfall collapsed on Sunday afternoon, a police officer said.

Around 40 mourners had gathered under the shelter at a crematorium in the district of Ghaziabad when it collapsed, trapping them under the rubble, divisional commissioner Anita C Meshram said.

Senior police officer Ijaj Raja said rescue workers used sniffer dogs to locate survivors and they were rushed to a hospital.

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Anita C Meshram said the cause of the collapse is still unknown.  "We will conduct an enquiry into the matter and find who is responsible- whether it is the builder, officials, or workers of the municipal council, as soon as possible," Meshram said.

Rescue workers used sniffer dogs to find survivors, who were rushed to nearby hospitals, some in critical condition. Senior police officer Ijaj Raja later said the rescue operation had been completed.