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Eleven people died after a warehouse collapsed in Kolkata's Burra Bazar, prompting the West Bengal government to investigate the building's approval process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the structure's plan had been sanctioned through irregularities during the tenure of a former Kolkata mayor. Authorities have launched a probe into compliance with sanctioned plans and building regulations, while rescue teams completed operations after recovering all victims from the debris.
At least 11 people were killed after a warehouse building collapsed in Kolkata in the past week, leading the West Bengal government to launch an investigation into the property's approval process and structural compliance.
The incident occurred in the city's Burra Bazar area, where the multi-storey warehouse gave way, trapping several workers beneath the debris. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Kolkata Police and the fire services carried out an extensive rescue operation before recovering the victims and clearing the site.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the location after the rescue operation and announced that the state government would investigate how the building had received planning approval. She alleged that the structure's plan had been sanctioned during the tenure of a former Kolkata mayor and claimed that approvals had been granted through irregular means. She stated that action would be taken if the investigation established violations or wrongdoing in the approval process.
According to the Chief Minister, the collapse raised serious concerns over compliance with sanctioned building plans and construction regulations. She instructed officials to examine all relevant municipal records, including approval documents, structural certifications and subsequent modifications made to the property.
Authorities said engineers and technical experts would assess whether the warehouse had undergone unauthorised alterations or whether structural deficiencies contributed to the collapse. Investigators are also examining whether the building was being used in accordance with the purpose for which it had originally received approval.
The rescue operation involved heavy machinery and specialised search equipment as emergency responders worked through damaged concrete and steel sections. Officials confirmed that all those reported missing had been accounted for after the recovery effort concluded.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is expected to cooperate with the investigation by providing records relating to the building's approval history and occupancy permissions. Officials will also review whether applicable safety norms and structural requirements were followed during construction and subsequent use of the property.
The collapse has once again drawn attention to the condition of ageing commercial buildings in densely developed urban areas, particularly those used for storage and warehousing. Civic authorities are expected to review compliance measures for similar structures as part of the ongoing investigation.
State officials said the inquiry would determine responsibility based on documentary evidence and technical findings. The government has indicated that appropriate legal and administrative action will be initiated if the investigation identifies lapses in planning approvals, construction practices or regulatory oversight linked to the warehouse collapse.
Source: Reuters
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