Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Five Dead, Many Trapped as Rescue Efforts Continue
Kolkata, June 25: A day after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed in the Taratala area, rescue operations continued on Thursday as families of missing workers searched hospitals and the debris site. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, has left at least five dead and about 20 rescued, with an unknown number still trapped.
Family members from as far as Basanti in South 24 Parganas district and local residents gathered at the site and at SSKM Hospital, hoping for news of their loved ones. One man, looking for his brother Khaleq Sardar, said he had visited both the spot and the hospital but found no trace. Another relative from Kidderpore said he last spoke to his family member on Tuesday night.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that authorities are trying to identify the labour contractor. Most workers were reportedly from Bihar's Munger and adjoining areas, he added. Mr. Adhikari praised local residents who, together with police, immediately began rescue efforts.
Witnesses described a strong tremor followed by a loud explosion when the structure collapsed. Biru Das, who works nearby, said he helped rescue about six people, one of whom later died. Another local, Ujjal Kumar, said he and others were resting when the accident occurred and rushed to help.
The construction had been ongoing for six months, and workers had begun laying the concrete roof of the third floor just three days ago, according to eyewitness Raju. He noted that the contractor, Asgar Khan, who obtained the tender, was likely present at the time of the collapse.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of the building. Locals claimed that workers were called in because the roof appeared to be shaking, possibly due to heavy rain. The contractor is reportedly known to be close to a former Trinamool Congress councillor of the area, Anwar Khan, whom locals chased away from the site.
The land belongs to the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, which had granted a 30-year lease from August 2024 to Behera Brothers, a private firm. Authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
