The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Kolkata investigating the recent warehouse roof collapse that tragically resulted in 16 deaths has engaged architectural experts from Jadavpur University (JU) to assess the structural flaws of the collapsed building. The team from JU, a renowned engineering institute, will scrutinize whether the warehouse was constructed as per the original design or if there were deviations during the building process.
Meanwhile, investigators are intensively searching Abdul Hamid’s residence, who was apprehended in connection with the incident for allegedly facilitating the approval of the construction plan by the previous Trinamool Congress-led board of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The SIT has also requested additional information from the KMC and the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) regarding the project, which was being developed on KoPT-owned land leased to the warehouse owner, Sambhunath Behra.
Sambhunath Behra, the warehouse owner, and Kalicharan Banerjee, the former OSD of ex-Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, have been arrested in relation to the case. However, both individuals are reportedly providing limited information during questioning. The SIT is currently examining documents seized from Behra Brothers to ascertain any potential irregularities in the land lease and to determine if there were set deadlines for the construction work.
Moreover, a police complaint has been lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mazdoor Cell against Firhad Hakim and two Trinamool Congress councillors, Anwar Khan and Shams Iqbal, at Taratala Police Station. A preliminary investigation by the SIT revealed that the warehouse collapse was caused by a combination of substandard construction materials and a flawed casting pattern, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
