5 killed, several trapped as under-construction warehouse collapses in Kolkata's Taratala; rescue ops continue

According to officials, dozens of workers were present at the site when the structure gave way.

Rescue teams have so far pulled out several workers from the debris, while efforts continue to reach those still trapped beneath the collapsed concrete and steel framework.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Chief Minister visits site, reviews rescue efforts

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari rushed to the accident site along with members of his Cabinet and reviewed the ongoing rescue operation.

"All the agencies are working together. We have rescued 22 persons, of whom five have died," Adhikari told reporters on Wednesday evening.

He added that rescue personnel had established contact with several workers trapped under the debris.

The Chief Minister said every available resource had been deployed to ensure the safe evacuation of those trapped.

Army joins multi-agency rescue mission

Following an emergency call from the civil administration, four columns of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army were deployed to assist in rescue efforts.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

A specialised team comprising rescue personnel, engineers and medical staff joined NDRF, SDRF and Kolkata Police teams at the site.

Heavy equipment, including cranes and gas cutters, was mobilised to clear debris and create access routes for rescuers.

Officials said the operation remains challenging due to the massive concrete slabs and twisted iron beams that collapsed onto workers.

Preliminary Findings Suggest Structural Flaws

Addressing the media, Adhikari said initial assessments by engineers from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) indicated serious flaws in the warehouse's design.

"The building plan of the warehouse was faulty," the Chief Minister said.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

He further announced that all under-construction activities within the KMC area would remain suspended pending a comprehensive safety audit.

"All the under-construction activities under the KMC area will remain suspended till an audit is conducted by July 31, 2026, following which the construction may resume," he said.

Warehouse was being built on port-leased land

Officials said the collapsed structure was a private warehouse being constructed on land leased by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA). The project was intended to house a multi-storeyed warehouse and cold storage facility.

The port authority said senior officials had reached the site immediately after the accident and were coordinating with rescue agencies.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government's Disaster Management Department has opened a control room and issued helpline numbers for families seeking information about those affected by the tragedy.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, while rescue operations continue amid hopes of locating more survivors.

Warehouse had been under construction for 18 months

According to local sources, construction work on the warehouse had been ongoing for approximately one and a half years.

The multi-storey roof structure collapsed suddenly around midday while labourers were working on-site.

Sources said a layer of concrete had been placed over an iron framework.

Local residents claimed the structure had been shaking since the morning and that some workers had gone to inspect it shortly before the accident.

The roof reportedly collapsed moments later, trapping workers beneath the debris.

Preliminary information indicates that the land belongs to the port authorities and was leased for 30 years to a tea company, which had been overseeing construction of the warehouse for the past 18 months.

Reports also suggest that the project's contractor may be among those trapped inside the structure.

All constructions halted until July 31

After inspecting the scene at Taratala and reviewing rescue efforts, CM Suvendu Adhikari announced that all building plans approved during the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime will undergo an audit.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

He also stated that all construction work will remain suspended until July 31.

"Engineers of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have made a preliminary assessment indicating that the plan of the warehouse building that collapsed in Taratala was defective," Adhikari told the media at Nabanna.

"So, construction plans of all ongoing projects in Kolkata will be examined again, and if they get clearance, construction works will resume on and after August 1," the CM added.