CM Says Ex-Mayor Approved Flawed Plan Behind Kolkata Warehouse Collapse That Killed 11
Warehouse collapse in Kolkata kills 11, triggers political blame.
At least 11 people have died after a four-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed in south-west Kolkata’s Taratala area on Wednesday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation and a political blame game over alleged irregularities in building approvals. The incident occurred around 12.07 pm, prompting emergency services to rush to the site as rescue teams worked through debris to locate survivors. Officials said the death toll rose to 11 on Thursday as search operations continued, while at least 25 people were rescued from the rubble in the immediate aftermath of the collapse.
Following the incident, several individuals were arrested in connection with the construction and alleged irregularities surrounding the warehouse project. Police confirmed the arrest of five people, including warehouse owner Shambhu Nath Behera. Others taken into custody include project supervisor Gulzar Hussain, fabricator Kamal Samanta, labour supplier Dibakar Samanta and broker Abdul Hamid, who allegedly facilitated approval of the project. Authorities said investigations are underway to determine whether violations in construction standards or corruption in the approval process contributed to the structural failure.
The collapse has triggered a sharp political exchange in West Bengal, with allegations of corruption and administrative lapses dominating the response from opposition leaders. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated his criticism of the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, claiming that the building plan had been approved under questionable circumstances. He alleged that flawed planning and alleged corruption in the sanctioning process played a role in the disaster. According to him, the approval for the warehouse was granted on January 17 this year by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which was under TMC control at the time.
Adhikari further claimed that the approval process was influenced by financial irregularities, stating that corruption had turned Kolkata into what he described as a “city of death.” He directed his remarks at TMC legislators, accusing them of repeated negligence in addressing unsafe construction practices. The chief minister also said that official records related to the approval had been examined, and insisted that accountability must be fixed for the incident. The comments intensified the political debate surrounding urban construction regulations and enforcement in the state.
Meanwhile, rescue and recovery operations continued at the site as authorities worked to clear debris and ensure no additional victims remained trapped. Structural engineers and disaster response teams have been deployed to assess the stability of surrounding buildings and prevent further incidents. Officials have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the collapse, including examination of construction materials, compliance with approved plans and possible regulatory violations. The tragedy has once again raised concerns over construction safety standards and enforcement mechanisms in rapidly developing urban areas like Kolkata.
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