The death toll from the roof collapse at an under-construction warehouse on P2 Transport Depot Road in Kolkata’s Taratala has reached 11. So far, 30 workers have been rescued from the debris, with 11 fatalities confirmed and 19 receiving treatment at SSKM Hospital, including one in critical condition.
Rescue efforts, involving teams from various agencies such as the Indian Army, NDRF, Kolkata Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and KMC, continued throughout the night and into the next day. Despite attempts to clear rubble and locate trapped workers, no further responses were received from inside the collapsed structure.
Operations were briefly halted due to a severe thunderstorm that hit Kolkata, causing heavy rain and lightning. The use of hydraulic cranes was suspended for safety reasons. Following the storm, rescue operations resumed, with gas cutters and earth movers being utilized to aid in the efforts.
State Minister Indranil Khan inspected the site, and a temporary medical camp was established nearby to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured workers before their transfer to the hospital. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the collapse, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate potential construction irregularities.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attributed the collapse to a faulty building plan and announced the suspension of work at all under-construction commercial properties in the KMC area until July 31.
