At least four people were killed and several others sustained injures after an under-construction building collapsed in West Bengal's Kolkata late on Sunday night. Situated in Hazari Mollah Bagan within the Garden Reach area, the five-storey structure collapsed around midnight. Officials have initiated a search operation to locate any survivors possibly trapped beneath the debris. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal personally inspected the site and assessed the ongoing rescue efforts.
Ambulances stationed at the spot
"An under-construction building collapsed in the Garden Reach area late on Sunday night. We have rescued a few people. The recuse operation is still going on," a police official said. Ambulances were stationed at the spot. Eyewitnesses, who were among the first responders, reported that concrete fragments began falling from the building before its collapse. The event was accompanied by a loud sound, and a dense cloud of dust enveloped the vicinity as the structure crumbled. According to locals, the debris scattered onto nearby shanties in the densely populated area.
"Although no one lived in the under-construction building, it collapsed on the adjacent shanties. We fear that many individuals might still be trapped under the rubble," said a local resident.
Suvendu Adhikari's appeal to state govt
In a post on X, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, "I urge @chief_west, Secretary @HomeBengal, @CPKolkata to immediately involve West Bengal State Disaster Management Team for immediate Rescue & Relief. I am receiving frantic calls regarding probable casualties. Please dispatch any team which can help in rescuing the victims, be it Fire Servicemen, Police or any other team (sic)," he said. Adhikari also shared pictures from the building collapse site.
CM Mamata Banerjee announces ex-gratia
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and for the injured persons. "Sad to learn about the house collapse disaster of an under-construction building in the Garden Reach area of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Our Mayor, Fire Minister, Secretaries and Commissioner of Police, civic, police, fire and disaster management officers and teams (including NDRF, KMC and KP teams) have been on site throughout the night to mitigate the disaster," she posted on X. "We stand by the distressed families and rescue operations shall continue," the CM added.
(With PTI inputs)
