Kolkata Warehouse Collapse Death Toll Rises to 9; Chief Minister Blames Previous Administration
The death toll from the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata's Taratala area rose to nine on Thursday, as rescue operations continued. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari addressed the state assembly, holding the previous Trinamool Congress government responsible for approving what he called faulty building plans.
Adhikari displayed a document during his assembly speech, which he said was signed by former minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, approving the plan for the collapsed structure. He stated that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had cleared the building plan despite alleged violations.
“A faulty building plan was approved by KMC. Nobody will be spared. These are all sins during your regime,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the incident reflected negligence in urban planning under the previous administration.
The collapse occurred on Wednesday, trapping several workers under debris. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities have been working to clear the site and locate any remaining victims. Officials said that the building was being constructed without proper safety measures.
At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the Trinamool Congress regarding the Chief Minister's allegations. The state government has announced an investigation into the incident.
