Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Six from Bihar Family Came for Work, Only Three Return
A devastating warehouse collapse in Kolkata's Taratala area has left a family from Bihar shattered. Six members of the same family had travelled from Mirjachak lagma village in Munger district to work at an under-construction warehouse. Only three survived; the other three perished in the incident that occurred on June 24, 2026.
Manikchand Kumar (22), one of the survivors, recounted being buried under debris moments after the collapse. He managed to record a 32-second video pleading for help and calling his relatives in Bihar. After being discharged from SSKM Hospital on June 27, he said, 'After much effort, I was able to reach the top. I asked two people cutting through debris to pull me out.' His father Rajendra Ram (55) and brother Soheed Kumar (26) were also rescued.
The deceased are identified as Ghee Kumar (19), Mannu Kumar (19), and Surchan Kumar. Their bodies are being taken back to Bihar. 'Six of us had come to work, and we are carrying three bodies home,' Manikchand said.
The collapse occurred around 12:07 a.m. on June 24 when the roof of an under-construction warehouse fell, trapping workers. The land was leased by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority to a private operator. Rescue operations involved the NDRF, Indian Army, and Kolkata Police. In total, 33 workers were rescued, and 16 died, including two minors. Among the trapped workers, 23 were from West Bengal, six from Bihar, two from Jharkhand, one from Uttar Pradesh, and one unidentified.
Locals claimed over 40 workers were present, but police stated no record of the exact number existed. The state government, led by Suvendu Adhikari, announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. Six persons have been arrested, including the land lessee, the structural engineer, and a former officer-on-special duty to former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim.
On June 27, the Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Cell filed a police complaint seeking an FIR against former mayor Firhad Hakim and former councillors Anwar Khan and Shams Iqbal, alleging their role in permitting illegal constructions leading to building collapses.
