At least five workers were killed and around 20 others were rescued after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed in the Taratala area of Kolkata on Wednesday, triggering a massive rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
The structure, spread across nearly 32,000 square feet, caved in while dozens of labourers were working at the site. Heavy concrete slabs, steel beams and construction materials trapped several workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, police, civic authorities and the Army were deployed to search for survivors.
Officials said about 20 injured workers were pulled out and shifted to nearby hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition. Authorities fear that more workers may still be trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts continue around the clock.
The collapse has raised serious concerns over construction safety standards and regulatory oversight. Following the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a temporary suspension of under-construction commercial projects within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area until July 31, pending safety reviews and inspections.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse, including possible structural and construction-related deficiencies.