The death toll in the Virar building collapse has surged to 17 after rescue personnel recovered two more bodies from the debris, officials stated on Thursday.

The builder of the ill-fated Ramabai Apartment, a four-storey structure, in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, has been arrested by the police after the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) lodged a formal complaint.

“Two more bodies have been located under the debris. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other rescue agencies are in the process of extricating them. Their identities will be confirmed soon,” said Vivekanand Kadam, chief of the disaster management cell of Palghar District.