A section of a 150-year-old house on Park Street in central Kolkata collapsed on Tuesday morning, causing alarm in the neighborhood. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the building was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The collapse has left local residents in a state of panic.
According to locals, the structure had weakened following the earthquake that hit the city on February 27. They mentioned that part of the roof collapsed without any prior warning. Due to the holiday for Dol Yatra on Monday, there was minimal movement in the area, potentially averting injuries or casualties.
Neighbors highlighted that the building had not undergone repairs for several years and had deteriorated significantly. They believe that the recent tremors exacerbated the already fragile state of the structure. Many residents expressed confusion over the incident, noting that the house’s age of at least 150 years likely contributed to its dilapidated condition.
Police from the Park Street station promptly arrived at the scene upon receiving information and secured the area. The incident of old houses collapsing in the city has raised concerns about the maintenance of aging structures and the safety of inhabitants residing in such dilapidated buildings. Despite awareness campaigns by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on structural safety, numerous properties remain neglected, with residents failing to address necessary repairs.
In a separate event on Monday, a concrete slab beneath the Central Park Metro station in Salt Lake collapsed, briefly causing panic among commuters and motorists. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident. Repair work commenced shortly after, although detailed statements from Metro authorities were not provided.
