Under-construction building in Kolkata collapses killing 9, injuring 15

Kolkata: Nine people, including two women, were killed and at least fifteen others suffered serious injuries when a five-story under-construction building in the Garden Reach neighbourhood collapsed in the early hours of Monday. The building is said to be an unlawful structure.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was receiving treatment following a fall at her home on March 14, arrived at the location wearing a bandage on her head.

“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 to mitigate the disaster. 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,” Mamata said on her X handle, the New Indian Express reported.

The BJP sought the arrest of local TMC councillor Shams Iqbal for his alleged involvement in the alleged unlawful construction housing of 16 flats, while police detained the promoter of the under-construction building, Muhammad Waser, on murder and attempt to murder charges.

The incident happened in ward number 134 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which is a portion of the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency. Firhad Hakim, the minister of urban development and mayor of the civic body, was elected from this constituency in 2011.

Acknowledging that the structure under construction was being built on ground that had been converted by filling a body of water, Hakim said, “I have spoken to the chief minister and we will give Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 1 lakh to each injured person.”

Locals claimed that the structure was being built by filling in a body of water, which is illegal as per the rules set forth by the local government. “Many highrises are being constructed in the area illegally by filling up water bodies. Similar incidents are waiting to take place in other constructions,” said a neighbour of the collapsed building.

On Monday at about 12:20 am, the locals heard a loud sound, and when they woke up, they saw that thick dust had covered the neighbourhood. "Those who were trapped were screaming for help. We were in a state of shock. We had no option left other than remaining spectators as we did not have the tools to remove the ruins and rescue the injured. Police and fire brigade personnel arrived after 30 minutes,” said a local resident.

Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition said the state administration was responsible for the collapse. “The incident took place in the turf of mayor and minister Firhad Hakim. Since the TMC gained control of the KMC, more than 5,000 waterbodies have been illegally filled up and converted within the KM area itself. Clear collusion between local councillors, promoters and local police, under the aegis of top TMC leaders, can be easily witnessed when such water bodies are filled up without facing any legal and administrative hassles. More than 800 such illegal constructions exist in the Garden Reach area itself,” said Adhikari.