Building collapse in Kolkata
The collapse of the under-construction five-storeyed building in the Garden Reach area of Kolkata on Sunday night has left a devastating impact, with four confirmed fatalities and seven individuals sustaining injuries. The incident has sparked a massive rescue operation amidst fears that more people might still be trapped under the debris.
WATCH: Under construction building collapse in Garden Reach, Kolkata. Disaster management and fire brigade on-site. Many trapped in debris near shanties. Rescue ongoing, injured taken to hospitals. Locals report illegal construction.#Buildingcollapse #BREAKING_NEWS #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/JJlkrryf9n
— Tirthankar Das (@tirthajourno) March 17, 2024
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who also serves as West Bengal’s urban development minister, promptly responded to the tragedy by announcing compensation for the affected families. He declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of each deceased individual and Rs 1 lakh to each injured person. Additionally, Hakim assured the public that efforts were underway to locate and rescue any remaining individuals who might be trapped.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal personally visited the site to assess the situation and oversee the rescue operation. According to officials, the collapse occurred late at night, prompting immediate response efforts from emergency services. Despite the challenges posed by the collapsed structure, several individuals have already been rescued, but the operation is ongoing to ensure the safety of anyone still trapped.
In the wake of the disaster, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, took to social media to advocate for the swift involvement of the State Disaster Management Team to bolster rescue and relief efforts.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself visited the site to assess the situation firsthand. Expressing her sorrow over the incident, she highlighted the tireless efforts of various agencies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, police, fire department, and disaster management teams such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Banerjee emphasized that these teams had been working tirelessly throughout the night to mitigate the disaster.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leaves from Unipon Hospital in South Kolkata after meeting the injured in the Metiabruz building collapse incident. . #MamataBanerjee #TMC pic.twitter.com/WCixbLKmbz
— Bharat News Network (@NewsBharatNet) March 18, 2024
In her statement, Banerjee mentioned that the collapse was a result of ‘illegal construction,’ indicating a need for stricter enforcement of building regulations and safety standards in the region. The tragic incident underscores the importance of robust infrastructure planning and adherence to construction guidelines to prevent such disasters in the future.
Know more –Â https://twitter.com/search?q=kolkata+building+collapse+news&ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Esearch
Latest news –Â https://readnownews.in/Â
Neeraj Tiwari 
Ashish Bajpai