The human toll of the devastating warehouse collapse in Kolkata's Taratala area has become even more heartbreaking, with officials confirming that three of the 11 people who lost their lives were minors. Rescue teams continue to search through the debris as authorities fear more victims may still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The under-construction warehouse on Transport Depot Road near Brace Bridge collapsed on June 24 while dozens of labourers were working inside. A massive rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Kolkata Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and civil defence personnel has been underway since the incident. Heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, thermal cameras and ground-penetrating radar have been deployed to locate survivors.
According to official records, the deceased include three 17-year-old boys—Rahul Choudhury from Purba Bardhaman, Sahil Sardar from Basanti, and Ghi Kumar from Bihar's Munger district. The remaining victims were adult labourers from West Bengal and Bihar who had been working at the construction site when the structure gave way. Nineteen injured workers continue to receive treatment at SSKM Hospital.
Police have already arrested the warehouse owner, the structural engineer, the labour contractor and other persons associated with the project. A criminal case has been registered on charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and investigators are examining whether negligence, violations of building norms or the use of substandard construction materials led to the disaster.
The tragedy has triggered widespread outrage across West Bengal, with demands for accountability over construction safety standards. The state government has ordered a high-level probe, while rescue teams continue their painstaking efforts to ensure no one remains trapped beneath the rubble. Authorities have also begun the process of identifying victims and extending assistance to their families.
