5 killed after Kolkata warehouse collapses, 3 arrested, rescue ops underway
Massive iron beams and concrete slabs of a Kolkata under-construction building came crashing down as workers were engaged in construction activity, trapping several people under the rubble.
At least five people have died and around 20 workers injured after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and fire services.
With many others feared trapped beneath the debris, rescuers raced against time as cries for help echoed from under the twisted steel and collapsed concrete, raising hopes that more workers could still be found alive.
So far, 25 workers have been pulled out and shifted to hospitals, several of them in critical condition. Rescue teams continue to search for those believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the site, said all agencies were working together to save those trapped.
"NDRF, Army, SDRF, Police, Fire Department are all together working here. So far, 25 people have been rescued. Among them, five have died and 20 are currently hospitalised. Of those admitted, 18 are out of danger, while the condition of 2 remains critical," Adhikari said.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the collapse, including building supervisor Saiyad Muhammad Gulzar and labour suppliers Muhammad Ataul and Subhash Chowdhury, the Chief Minister's office said.
Huge iron beams and concrete slabs crashed down while construction work was underway, burying scores of workers under the rubble. Authorities have not confirmed the exact number of workers present when the building collapsed, though initial reports suggest between 40 and 50 labourers may have been working inside at the time.
ARMY, NDRF DEPLOY DRONES AND SNIFFER DOGS
Emergency teams rushed to the site soon after the collapse and launched a large-scale rescue operation.
Four columns of the Indian Army were deployed following a request from the state government and disaster management authorities. NDRF, SDRF, police and fire personnel have been working continuously to reach workers trapped deep beneath the debris.
Gas cutters are being used to slice through twisted steel and reinforced concrete, while vertical drilling is being carried out to create access points into pockets where survivors may be trapped.
The NDRF has also deployed sniffer dogs and overhead drones to detect signs of life under the collapsed structure.
Rescue personnel are battling extremely difficult conditions as they carefully remove debris without triggering further collapses.
CRIES FOR HELP GUIDE RESCUERS
Witnesses and rescue personnel said trapped workers could be heard calling out for help from beneath the rubble.
"We are following the cries for help coming from under the debris. At the same time, we are assuring the trapped people that they will be rescued soon," a member of the Kolkata Police disaster management team said.
The sounds have become a crucial guide for rescue teams as they painstakingly work through layers of collapsed concrete and steel.
SIT FORMED TO PROBE THE COLLAPSE
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the collapse case after a formal order was issued by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Kolkata. The case has now been transferred to the Detective Department for further investigation.
The case was registered as Taratala Police Station Case No. 74 dated June 24, 2026, under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities said the SIT has been tasked with carrying out a detailed and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The SIT will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Detective Department, Kolkata, and will include officers from both the Detective Department and Taratala Police Station to strengthen the probe.
Inspector Hirak Dalapati of the Detective Department has been appointed as the new Investigating Officer (IO) in the case. The team has been directed to regularly submit updates on the progress of the investigation to senior police officials.
EYEWITNESSES DESCRIBE HORROR MOMENTS BEFORE COLLAPSE
Witnesses said construction work was in full swing when the structure suddenly gave way.
"Construction activities were taking place on the ground floor while the RCC structure for the first and second floors had already been completed. The entire structure has come crashing down," an eyewitness said.
A fire department official said the collapse occurred while concrete casting work was underway.
The official added that the possibility of substandard construction materials being used could not be ruled out and would be examined as part of the investigation.
THREE WORKERS ESCAPE DEATH BY MINUTES
Amid the devastation, three workers narrowly escaped death after stepping out of the construction site moments before the collapse.
The workers said they had gone outside to wash themselves when the warehouse suddenly came crashing down behind them.
Calling themselves "lucky to be alive", they said there was no warning before the massive iron beams and concrete slabs gave way.
The survivors described scenes of panic as workers screamed for help and those who escaped rushed to alert local residents and emergency services.
They also revealed that one of their relatives was among those trapped beneath the rubble and said they were praying for his safe rescue.
The West Bengal government has also set up a control room at Nabanna to monitor the situation and coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
QUESTIONS RAISED OVER SAFETY NORMS
The warehouse had reportedly been under construction for the past six to seven months.
The site is owned by Sambhu Behera of Behera Brothers Construction, while the project was being developed by Ajgar Khan, who is considered an influential local figure in the area.
Authorities are expected to launch a detailed probe into whether construction and safety regulations were followed and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.
Investigators are also likely to examine the quality of construction materials, adherence to structural standards and the approval process for the project.
CM ORDERS HALT TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ANNOUNCES AUDIT
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the collapse site and said 21 people had been rescued from the debris while rescue operations were continuing on a "war footing" to save an estimated 12 to 15 workers still trapped beneath the rubble.
"Twenty-one people have been taken out. The operation is being carried out on a war footing. Twelve to fifteen people are still trapped. I will now visit SSKM Hospital," Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister said preliminary findings pointed to possible flaws in the building plan approved for the project.
"An initial report given to me by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation says that the building plan was sanctioned this year. KMC engineers have informed us that the sanctioned plan had flaws," he said.
Adhikari said the state government would decide on further action after receiving detailed reports and would make an announcement in the Assembly on Thursday.
"I will tell you tomorrow what action we shall take," he added.
WORK STOPPED AT ALL UNDER-CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS UNDER KMC
In the wake of the tragedy, the Bengal government ordered an immediate halt to work at all under-construction buildings under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Banerjee announced a comprehensive audit of all ongoing construction projects, particularly commercial developments.
Construction activity will remain suspended until the audit is completed.
"An audit will be conducted across all under-construction projects, especially commercial projects. Once cleared, only then can work resume from August 1," she said.
TRAPPED WORKERS BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE
The Chief Minister said rescuers had received encouraging signs from beneath the debris.
According to Banerjee, Army and NDRF officials informed her that contact had been established with some of the trapped workers.
"The Army and NDRF have told me that a few people inside are alive and we have provided food and water through a channel," she said.
Rescue teams continued drilling through the wreckage and creating access routes in an effort to safely reach survivors.
VICTIMS YET TO BE FULLY IDENTIFIED
Authorities confirmed that three people had died in the collapse.
Two of the victims have been identified as Rohit Chowdhary and Krishna Chowdhary, while the identity of the third deceased worker is yet to be established.
Officials said the process of identifying all those affected was ongoing, with several workers believed to be migrant labourers from different states.
As night fell over the collapse site, rescuers continued to dig through the twisted remains of steel and concrete, driven by the faint voices still emerging from beneath the rubble and hopes of pulling more survivors to safety.
At least five people have died and around 20 workers injured after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and fire services.
With many others feared trapped beneath the debris, rescuers raced against time as cries for help echoed from under the twisted steel and collapsed concrete, raising hopes that more workers could still be found alive.
So far, 25 workers have been pulled out and shifted to hospitals, several of them in critical condition. Rescue teams continue to search for those believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the site, said all agencies were working together to save those trapped.
"NDRF, Army, SDRF, Police, Fire Department are all together working here. So far, 25 people have been rescued. Among them, five have died and 20 are currently hospitalised. Of those admitted, 18 are out of danger, while the condition of 2 remains critical," Adhikari said.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the collapse, including building supervisor Saiyad Muhammad Gulzar and labour suppliers Muhammad Ataul and Subhash Chowdhury, the Chief Minister's office said.
Huge iron beams and concrete slabs crashed down while construction work was underway, burying scores of workers under the rubble. Authorities have not confirmed the exact number of workers present when the building collapsed, though initial reports suggest between 40 and 50 labourers may have been working inside at the time.
ARMY, NDRF DEPLOY DRONES AND SNIFFER DOGS
Emergency teams rushed to the site soon after the collapse and launched a large-scale rescue operation.
Four columns of the Indian Army were deployed following a request from the state government and disaster management authorities. NDRF, SDRF, police and fire personnel have been working continuously to reach workers trapped deep beneath the debris.
Gas cutters are being used to slice through twisted steel and reinforced concrete, while vertical drilling is being carried out to create access points into pockets where survivors may be trapped.
The NDRF has also deployed sniffer dogs and overhead drones to detect signs of life under the collapsed structure.
Rescue personnel are battling extremely difficult conditions as they carefully remove debris without triggering further collapses.
CRIES FOR HELP GUIDE RESCUERS
Witnesses and rescue personnel said trapped workers could be heard calling out for help from beneath the rubble.
"We are following the cries for help coming from under the debris. At the same time, we are assuring the trapped people that they will be rescued soon," a member of the Kolkata Police disaster management team said.
The sounds have become a crucial guide for rescue teams as they painstakingly work through layers of collapsed concrete and steel.
SIT FORMED TO PROBE THE COLLAPSE
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the collapse case after a formal order was issued by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Kolkata. The case has now been transferred to the Detective Department for further investigation.
The case was registered as Taratala Police Station Case No. 74 dated June 24, 2026, under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities said the SIT has been tasked with carrying out a detailed and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The SIT will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Detective Department, Kolkata, and will include officers from both the Detective Department and Taratala Police Station to strengthen the probe.
Inspector Hirak Dalapati of the Detective Department has been appointed as the new Investigating Officer (IO) in the case. The team has been directed to regularly submit updates on the progress of the investigation to senior police officials.
EYEWITNESSES DESCRIBE HORROR MOMENTS BEFORE COLLAPSE
Witnesses said construction work was in full swing when the structure suddenly gave way.
"Construction activities were taking place on the ground floor while the RCC structure for the first and second floors had already been completed. The entire structure has come crashing down," an eyewitness said.
A fire department official said the collapse occurred while concrete casting work was underway.
The official added that the possibility of substandard construction materials being used could not be ruled out and would be examined as part of the investigation.
THREE WORKERS ESCAPE DEATH BY MINUTES
Amid the devastation, three workers narrowly escaped death after stepping out of the construction site moments before the collapse.
The workers said they had gone outside to wash themselves when the warehouse suddenly came crashing down behind them.
Calling themselves "lucky to be alive", they said there was no warning before the massive iron beams and concrete slabs gave way.
The survivors described scenes of panic as workers screamed for help and those who escaped rushed to alert local residents and emergency services.
They also revealed that one of their relatives was among those trapped beneath the rubble and said they were praying for his safe rescue.
The West Bengal government has also set up a control room at Nabanna to monitor the situation and coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
QUESTIONS RAISED OVER SAFETY NORMS
The warehouse had reportedly been under construction for the past six to seven months.
The site is owned by Sambhu Behera of Behera Brothers Construction, while the project was being developed by Ajgar Khan, who is considered an influential local figure in the area.
Authorities are expected to launch a detailed probe into whether construction and safety regulations were followed and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.
Investigators are also likely to examine the quality of construction materials, adherence to structural standards and the approval process for the project.
CM ORDERS HALT TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ANNOUNCES AUDIT
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the collapse site and said 21 people had been rescued from the debris while rescue operations were continuing on a "war footing" to save an estimated 12 to 15 workers still trapped beneath the rubble.
"Twenty-one people have been taken out. The operation is being carried out on a war footing. Twelve to fifteen people are still trapped. I will now visit SSKM Hospital," Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister said preliminary findings pointed to possible flaws in the building plan approved for the project.
"An initial report given to me by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation says that the building plan was sanctioned this year. KMC engineers have informed us that the sanctioned plan had flaws," he said.
Adhikari said the state government would decide on further action after receiving detailed reports and would make an announcement in the Assembly on Thursday.
"I will tell you tomorrow what action we shall take," he added.
WORK STOPPED AT ALL UNDER-CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS UNDER KMC
In the wake of the tragedy, the Bengal government ordered an immediate halt to work at all under-construction buildings under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Banerjee announced a comprehensive audit of all ongoing construction projects, particularly commercial developments.
Construction activity will remain suspended until the audit is completed.
"An audit will be conducted across all under-construction projects, especially commercial projects. Once cleared, only then can work resume from August 1," she said.
TRAPPED WORKERS BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE
The Chief Minister said rescuers had received encouraging signs from beneath the debris.
According to Banerjee, Army and NDRF officials informed her that contact had been established with some of the trapped workers.
"The Army and NDRF have told me that a few people inside are alive and we have provided food and water through a channel," she said.
Rescue teams continued drilling through the wreckage and creating access routes in an effort to safely reach survivors.
VICTIMS YET TO BE FULLY IDENTIFIED
Authorities confirmed that three people had died in the collapse.
Two of the victims have been identified as Rohit Chowdhary and Krishna Chowdhary, while the identity of the third deceased worker is yet to be established.
Officials said the process of identifying all those affected was ongoing, with several workers believed to be migrant labourers from different states.
As night fell over the collapse site, rescuers continued to dig through the twisted remains of steel and concrete, driven by the faint voices still emerging from beneath the rubble and hopes of pulling more survivors to safety.
