The death toll in the Taratala warehouse collapse has risen to 16 after two more injured workers died during treatment at SSKM Hospital. Rescue teams are now in the final stage of their operation, with officials saying only a thorough search of the debris remains before it is concluded.
The under construction warehouse collapsed on Wednesday in Kolkata’s Taratala area, trapping several workers under the debris. Since then, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, Kolkata Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and Civil Defence have been working continuously to rescue those trapped.
Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) Bengal President Sushil Mohta expressed grief over the loss of lives and said member developers follow prescribed construction standards.
“Everyone is deeply saddened by the accident and the loss of lives. As far as CREDAI members are concerned, I want to clarify that they strictly follow the code of conduct, national laws, rules, and building industry norms. For any building, soil testing is done, and recommendations from geotechnical engineers determine the bearing capacity and structural plan,” he said.
Officials said advanced equipment, including cameras and sensors, has been used to scan the rubble and ensure no worker remains trapped. The rescue operation has entered its fourth day and is expected to end once the entire site is cleared and verified.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the incident has intensified. The Kolkata Police Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested six people, including the warehouse owner and engineers involved in the project. Investigators are examining whether negligence, illegal construction or violations of safety norms led to the collapse.
The tragedy has raised serious concerns over construction safety and enforcement of building regulations in Kolkata. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the incident.
