The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the warehouse roof collapse at Taratala, which tragically claimed 16 lives, has requested more information from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). The warehouse project, situated on KoPT-owned land leased by Sambhunath Behra, had its construction plans approved by KMC.
Authorities are seeking specifics from KMC regarding the submitted construction plans and related documents. Additionally, KoPT is being questioned about soil testing procedures. The arrested individuals, warehouse owner Sambhunath Behra and former OSD Kalicharan Banerjee, have not been forthcoming during interrogation.
The SIT is scrutinizing documents retrieved from Behra Brothers and investigating potential brokerage involvement in the land lease. They are also determining if a completion timeline was established for the project. A police complaint was lodged against former Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim and two Trinamool Congress Councillors by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mazdoor Cell.
Initial findings by the SIT indicate that substandard construction materials and flawed casting methods contributed to the roof collapse tragedy. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has vowed to ensure accountability and justice in the case. He criticized the previous Trinamool Congress government for allowing illegal constructions in exchange for bribes, tarnishing Kolkata’s image.
