Seven people, including two women, died and several others were injured as five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Kolkata’s crowded Garden Reach area on Sunday night.
A fire services official involved in the rescue operation said that the death toll could go up as at least four people have been seen trapped under the debris. Only one of those trapped under has shown signs of life. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim emphasised the urgent nature of rescue efforts at the site of the illegally constructed building. Md Wasim, the building’s promoter, has been apprehended, with the Mayor affirming that strict legal measures will be pursued against those responsible.
West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose earlier announced that Rs 5 lakhs will be given as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh will be given to those injured.
Mamata visits building collapse site
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also visited the incident site on Monday morning and announced compensation to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured persons.
“Sad to learn about the house collapse disaster of an under-construction building in the Garden Reach area of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Our Mayor, Fire Minister, Secretaries and Commissioner of Police, civic, police, fire and disaster management officers and teams (including NDRF, KMC and KP teams) have been on site throughout the night for mitigating the disaster,” the West Bengal CM posted on X.
“We shall provide compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and for the injured persons. We stand by the distressed families and rescue operations shall continue,” she added.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place after midnight when concrete fragments began to fall from the building. Subsequently, the entire structure collapsed, with debris spilling onto adjacent residences in the densely populated locality. There was a loud sound and a thick cloud of dust engulfed the area as the building collapsed.
“Although no one lived in the under-construction building, it collapsed on the adjacent shanties. We fear that many individuals might still be trapped under the rubble,” said a local resident.
Locals reported that construction on the building had been ongoing for the past six months. Additionally, they claimed that the structure lacked proper authorisation from both the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the police.
Police, rescue workers at spot
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal inspected the site and assessed the progress of the rescue efforts. The recuse operation is still underway.
“We have rescued some people who received injuries from the rubble. They have been hospitalised. Rescue operations are on and we are searching for any person who may be trapped in the rubble. So far, there is no report of a death. It is a congested area and we are taking all precautions while searching the area,” said a senior police officer told The Indian Express.
Rescue teams are using gas cutters to navigate through the debris in search of survivors, as per reports from rescuers. Ambulances are on standby, ready to provide immediate assistance as needed.
“The building was empty but it collapsed on neighboring slum areas. People were sleeping there,” said a police officer.
Political reaction on the incident
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) said, “I urge @chief_west, Secretary @HomeBengal, @CPKolkata to immediately involve West Bengal State Disaster Management Team for immediate Rescue & Relief.” “I am receiving frantic calls regarding probable casualties. Please dispatch any team which can help in rescuing the victims, be it Fire Servicemen, Police or any other team,” he said.
Additionally, Indranil Khan, the state BJP Yuva Morcha president, tweeted, “The catastrophic collapse of an unauthorised illegal building at Azhar Molla Bagan in KMC Ward No 134, Garden Reach area, crushing and trapping several people including children underneath, is a fatal consequence of the corrupt civic system in Kolkata running in tandem with TMC-backed syndicate mafia. While we appeal for immediate and adequate measures from the state administration Police, Fire Brigade, Disaster Management teams for rescue of the trapped and optimum treatment of the injured.”
