Kolkata Warehouse Collapse Turns Deadlier as Rescue Teams Race Against Time

The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata rose to 15 on Friday after rescue teams recovered two more bodies from the debris and two injured workers later succumbed to their injuries. Emergency personnel continued round-the-clock search and rescue operations for the third consecutive night as concerns remained that several labourers could still be trapped beneath the wreckage. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of workers who were present at the site when the structure collapsed.

The roof of the under-construction warehouse caved in on Wednesday, trapping numerous workers under heavy concrete slabs, iron beams and piles of debris. Since then, teams from multiple emergency agencies have been engaged in a difficult operation to locate survivors and recover those trapped. The rescue effort has been hampered by the complexity of the collapse, with heavy machinery and specialised equipment being used to carefully remove debris without endangering anyone who may still be alive beneath it.

Authorities said there was still no clarity on the number of labourers unaccounted for, making it difficult to determine when the operation could be formally concluded. Rescue teams have continued working through the day and night, with medical personnel and disaster response officials remaining on standby as each section of the collapsed structure is cleared. The focus remains on locating any remaining survivors while ensuring the safety of rescue workers.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said weather conditions were expected to aid the ongoing operation. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had indicated that the absence of rainfall could allow the search and rescue mission to be completed by midnight. "I spoke to the NDRF personnel. They have indicated that if the weather remains favourable, the rescue operation may be completed by tonight," he said.

The warehouse collapse has once again drawn attention to safety standards at construction sites and the risks faced by labourers working on large infrastructure projects. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances that led to the collapse, including whether construction norms and structural safety guidelines were followed. Such investigations typically examine design, material quality and compliance with regulatory approvals.

As rescue operations continue, officials have urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency teams unrestricted access to the site. The administration is expected to release further updates once the search concludes and the final number of casualties is confirmed. The incident ranks among the most serious construction-related accidents in the region in recent years, with authorities expected to determine accountability after the rescue phase is completed.

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