Agencies | Kolkata:
At least three people were killed and 18 others injured after the roof of an under-construction warehouse collapsed in Kolkata’s Taratala area on Wednesday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
Rescue and relief efforts are underway on a war footing, with four columns of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, Civil Defence personnel, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Kolkata Police and the Disaster Management Group (DMG) deployed at the site.
According to officials, at least 10 people have been pulled out from the debris and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Rescue teams continue to search for any workers who may still be trapped under the rubble.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the tragedy and said she would soon visit the site to assess the situation.
“Deeply pained and saddened by the loss of lives due to the tragic collapse of an under-construction warehouse building near Brace Bridge in Taratala, where several workers got trapped beneath the debris. Words fail to express my sorrow for the three precious lives lost in this tragedy. My deepest condolences go out to their bereaved families,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
Officials said the collapsed structure belonged to Behera Brothers, which was constructing a multi-storeyed warehouse-cum-cold storage facility. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority had granted a 30-year lease to M/s Behera Brothers for the project with effect from August 1, 2024.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Fayaz Ahmad Khan alleged that repeated complaints regarding illegal construction activities at the site had been ignored by the authorities.
“The Kolkata Port authorities and the administration must take responsibility for this incident. People had complained multiple times about the illegal work taking place here, but no action was taken. This is the result of a system where innocent workers and common people lose their lives. Accountability for these casualties rests with the present state government,” Khan said.
Authorities have not yet commented on the allegations. An investigation into the cause of the collapse is expected to be initiated.
