The death toll in the tragic collapse of an under-construction godown shed in Kolkata's Taratala area has risen to eight, while 20 others have been injured, according to Kolkata Police. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Brace Bridge, where a three-storey warehouse under construction suddenly collapsed, trapping several workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams from the Indian Army, NDRF, Fire Services and Kolkata Police continued operations through the night to search for survivors and recover those trapped.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of those who died in the tragedy. He also announced financial assistance of ₹50,000 for each injured person. In a message shared by the Prime Minister's Office, Modi said the incident was saddening and added that the state government was working round the clock to ensure all possible assistance reached those affected.
All eight victims were declared brought dead at SSKM Hospital. Officials said most of the injured are undergoing treatment, with several reported to be out of danger. The rescue operation continued for several hours as authorities worked to clear the massive pile of concrete and steel from the collapsed structure.
The West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the cause of the collapse. The probe is being headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Joysurja Mukherjee. Three people, including the building supervisor and two labour suppliers, have been arrested in connection with the incident, and investigators are examining possible violations in construction practices and safety norms.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the site and later met the injured at the hospital, said preliminary findings indicate serious irregularities in the approved construction plan. He assured that those responsible would face strict action after the investigation is completed. The tragedy has once again raised concerns over safety compliance at construction sites and the enforcement of building regulations in the city.
