Kolkata warehouse collapse kills 11, including three minors
At least 11 people died when a warehouse under construction collapsed in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Among the deceased are three minors, several daily-wage labourers, and the proprietor of the construction firm that was awarded the tender for the project.
The dead include Ghee Kumar (17) from Bihar's Munger district, Rahul Chowdhury (17) and Sahil Sardar (17), both from West Bengal. Ghee Kumar had quit school after Class XI and arrived in Kolkata about a month ago with his father and four brothers to work as construction labourers. His body was recovered early Thursday morning. One of his brothers remains missing, while the other three are undergoing treatment.
Rahul Chowdhury, from Nodia in West Bengal, had started his first job only 15 days before the accident. He had left school after Class VII. His relative Chandrama Chowdhury (60) also died in the collapse. Sahil Sardar was from South 24 Parganas.
The proprietor of Ayan Traders, Asgar Khan (54), who was overseeing the construction, also died in the incident. Officials said the structure collapsed suddenly, trapping workers inside. Rescue operations continued through the night, with bodies being recovered into early Thursday.
Several victims were from poor families, with many being the sole breadwinners. Ganesh Kalandi (45) from Jharkhand's Dhanbad, who died in the accident, was the only earner for his family, according to his daughter. He had previously worked in Gujarat and was awaiting payment from the Taratala site.
Families of the victims have demanded accountability. Relatives of Rahul Chowdhury said they had seen the roof shaking days before the collapse. “They all should be punished for their deed,” said his sister Seema. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests.
The incident highlights the precarious conditions faced by migrant labourers, many of whom earn between ₹400 and ₹500 per day. The state government has announced compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
