Death Toll Rises To 16 In Kolkata Warehouse Roof Collapse, Rescue Underway

The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction warehouse roof in the Taratala area on the southern outskirts of Kolkata has climbed to 16, even as rescue operations continued on Saturday for the third consecutive day. The incident has triggered a large-scale emergency response involving multiple agencies working through debris to search for survivors and recover victims.

According to Kolkata Police, the latest fatality occurred after one of the injured persons undergoing treatment succumbed to injuries on Friday night. The death count had stood at 15 until then, but has now risen to 16. The collapse, which took place earlier in the week, has left the site severely damaged, with ongoing concerns that more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Rescue operations, though described as being in the final stages, are continuing with full intensity. Teams from the Indian Railways, Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed at the site. Advanced equipment, including plasma-cutting and oxy-cutting machines, is being used to cut through heavy iron beams, while sniffer dogs and infrared victim-locator cameras are assisting in the search efforts.

Also Read: Rescue Efforts Continue In Venezuela After Quakes Leave Widespread Debris

Medical authorities at the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in South Kolkata confirmed that 14 injured people are currently under treatment. Officials added that the condition of a few patients remains critical, and they are being closely monitored by medical teams. The injured were rescued from the debris over the course of the ongoing operations since the collapse occurred.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the incident has intensified. A preliminary report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kolkata Police has indicated that the use of poor-quality construction materials along with a flawed casting pattern may have contributed to the structural failure. In a parallel development, a complaint has been filed at Taratala Police Station by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mazdoor Cell against former Kolkata Mayor and ex-state minister Firhad Hakim, along with two Trinamool Congress councillors.

Officials have also pointed out a major gap in administrative records at the site. Police stated that no attendance register was maintained for workers at the under-construction warehouse, making it difficult to determine the exact number of people present at the time of the collapse. As a result, authorities are unable to confirm how many individuals may still be unaccounted for under the debris, leaving key questions about the scale of the tragedy unanswered.

Also Read: Four Feared Dead In Fire At Lucknow Coaching Centre, Rescue Operation On