Kolkata Warehouse Collapse Investigation Begins; Structural Failures and Regulatory Gaps Under Scrutiny Now

Five people, including a structural engineer and a site supervisor, have been arrested in connection with the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata's Taratala area that claimed the lives of eight labourers. Kolkata Police on Thursday also transferred the investigation to its Detective Department and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine possible construction lapses and fix responsibility for the tragedy. Rescue operations and investigations are continuing as authorities assess the full extent of the incident.

The warehouse collapsed at around 12.05 pm on Wednesday while construction work was underway, trapping several labourers beneath the debris. Although officials have confirmed eight deaths so far, the exact number of workers present at the site when the structure gave way is yet to be determined. Local residents claimed that as many as 50 workers could still have been inside the building at the time of the collapse, though authorities have not officially confirmed that figure.

Police have registered a suo motu First Information Report under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to culpable homicide and attempt to commit culpable homicide. Investigators are examining whether negligence, violations of construction norms or structural defects contributed to the collapse. The SIT is expected to review the design, approvals, supervision and execution of the project as part of its investigation.

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According to Kolkata Police, those arrested include Gulzar Hussain, supervisor of Ayan Traders; Kamal Samanto, an iron structure fabricator; Sambhunath Behera, the lessee of the land; Dibakar Bhandari, a labour supplier and contractor associated with Trimex; and Abdul Hamid, who allegedly acted as a broker in obtaining sanction plans from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Investigators are questioning the accused to determine their respective roles in the construction project.

The Detective Department will now lead the probe, focusing on whether mandatory safety standards were ignored and whether all necessary approvals were obtained before construction began. Officials are also expected to examine engineering reports, contractual arrangements and the structural design of the warehouse to establish if preventable failures led to the disaster.

Rescue personnel continued to search through the debris as authorities worked to account for all workers believed to have been present at the site. The incident has once again raised concerns over construction safety, regulatory oversight and compliance with building norms at infrastructure projects in urban areas. Police said further arrests are possible as the investigation progresses and additional evidence is gathered.

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