Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 15, Rescue Operations Continue
The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata's Taratala area has risen to 15, with four more workers reported dead on Friday morning. Three persons rescued from the site on Friday were declared dead at the hospital, while one worker succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night at a state-run health facility.
According to police, 33 people have been rescued from the accident site. Of these, 15 workers have died and 18 are undergoing treatment at a state-run health facility. Six persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the lessee of the land on which the warehouse was constructed, the structural engineer, and a former officer on special duty to the former Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Firhad Hakim.
Rescue operations are being carried out by personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who are searching for any signs of life in the debris. Equipment from Indian Railways is also being used, and Indian Army personnel are participating in the rescue work. A senior NDRF officer said that the accident area has been analysed and three specific areas have been identified for 'aggressive cutting' of the debris.
“Rescue operations are going on. NDRF is leading the rescue operation. They are trying their best, and they are hopeful that if the weather is conducive, they can complete rescue by tonight,” the Chief Minister said on Friday.
On Thursday, the Chief Minister announced the suspension of all ongoing construction projects in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area and adjoining areas of Rajarhat, Sonarpur, Baruipur, and Maheshtala. Building plans in these areas will undergo a comprehensive audit. A high-level committee has been constituted, headed by Rajesh Pandey, IAS, which will submit its report in seven days.
The roof of the under-construction warehouse collapsed at about 12:07 a.m. on Wednesday, burying several workers. The land was leased out to a private operator by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority for the construction of the warehouse.
