The toll in the hotel collapse in Kalupur area of Ahmedabad increased to 16 even as the rescue operation was called off on Monday evening after it became clear that chances of finding any more victims were remote, fire brigade officials said.
"With the recovery of one more body late on Monday evening, the toll has gone up to 16. As the chances of finding any more victims are remote, the rescue operation has been called off," Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Ahmedabad Fire Brigade Rajesh Bhatt said.
Fifteen bodies were recovered earlier while three persons were rescued alive from the debris after they lay there for almost 24 hours, fighting for their lives.
The four-storeyed hotel building just opposite the Kalupur railway station had collapsed on Sunday. The cause behind the collapse of the 23-year-old building was not immediately known, but the officials said the restructuring work being undertaken on the premises and some ongoing construction in the adjacent building could be a factor.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had filed a police case against the hotel owner on Sunday together with the builder of the adjacent building, police added.
