A five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Kolkata’s congested Garden Reach area late Sunday night, following which the police and disaster management personnel evacuated 10 people, even as searches continued for anyone else who may be trapped.
The incident took place after midnight, with locals saying that initially, concrete chunks started falling off the under-construction building. Later, the entire structure collapsed, with parts of it falling on neighboring residences in the densely populated area.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and senior officers, along with disaster management teams and fire service officials, had rushed to the spot.
“We have rescued some people who received injuries from the rubble. They have been hospitalised. Rescue operations are on and we are searching for any person who may be trapped in the rubble. So far, there is no report of a death. It is a congested area and we are taking all precautions while searching the area,” said a senior police officer.
According to locals, the building had been under construction for the last six months. Locals also alleged that the building lacked proper permission from Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the police.
According to rescuers, gas cutters were being used to get through the rubble and look for survivors. Ambulances have been kept on standby.
“The building was empty but it collapsed on neighboring slum areas. People were sleeping there,” said a police officer.
In a post on X, Suvendu Adhikari, BJP MLA and leader of the opposition in state assembly, wrote: “A 5 storey building (illegally constructed) has collapsed at Hazari Mollah Bagan; Garden Reach; Metiabruz, KMC Ward No. 134. This particular area falls under the so called ‘citadel’ of Hon’ble Mayor of Kolkata and Municipal Affairs Minister. I urge @chief_west, Secretary @HomeBengal, @CPKolkata to immediately involve the West Bengal State Disaster Management Team for immediate Rescue & Relief.”
Indranil Khan, the state BJP Yuva Morcha president, posted, “The catastrophic collapse of an unauthorised illegal building at Azhar Molla Bagan in KMC Ward No 134, Garden Reach area, crushing and trapping several people including children underneath, is a fatal consequence of the corrupt civic system in Kolkata running in tandem with TMC-backed syndicate mafia. While we appeal for immediate and adequate measures from the state administration Police, Fire Brigade, Disaster Management teams for rescue of the trapped and optimum treatment of the injured.”
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 18-03-2024 at 02:43 IST
