Garden Reach,Seven dead, several injured as under-construction building collapses in Kolkata’s Garden Reach area, rescue operations on
Seven people, including two women, died and several others were injured as five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Kolkata’s crowded Garden Reach area on Sunday night.
A fire services official involved in the rescue operation said that the death toll could go up as at least four people have been seen trapped under the debris. Only one of those trapped under has shown signs of life. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim emphasised the urgent nature of rescue efforts at the site of the illegally constructed building. Md Wasim, the building’s promoter, has been apprehended, with the Mayor affirming that strict legal measures will be pursued against those responsible.
West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose earlier announced that Rs 5 lakhs will be given as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh will be given to those injured.
Mamata visits building collapse site
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also visited the incident site on Monday morning and announced compensation to the next of kin of each deceased and 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 for mitigating the disaster,” the West Bengal CM posted on X.
“We shall provide compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and for the injured persons. We stand by the distressed families and rescue operations shall continue,” she added.
Police, rescue workers at spot
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal inspected the site and assessed the progress of the rescue efforts. The recuse operation is still underway.
“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 told The Indian Express.
Rescue teams are using gas cutters to navigate through the debris in search of survivors, as per reports from rescuers. Ambulances are on standby, ready to provide immediate assistance as needed.
“The building was empty but it collapsed on neighboring slum areas. People were sleeping there,” said a police officer.
