Survivor's video from Taratala collapse shows agonising 5 hours under debris

A chilling video recorded by a worker trapped beneath the debris of the deadly Taratala warehouse collapse in West Bengal has surfaced, offering a harrowing glimpse into the desperate struggle for survival inside the wreckage moments after the structure came crashing down.

The footage was recorded by Manik Chand Kumar, one of the workers caught beneath the debris when the under-construction warehouse collapsed in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday afternoon.

Manik survived the disaster and was admitted to SSKM Hospital after being rescued. He has since been treated and discharged. While Manik, his father and one of his brothers survived, three of his brothers died in the tragedy.

According to available information, Manik remained trapped for around five hours before managing to emerge from the debris the same day.

VIDEO CAPTURES DESPERATE CRIES FOR HELP

The video, recorded from beneath the collapsed structure, shows two men pinned under twisted corrugated sheets and iron reinforcement bars.

One of the trapped workers can be seen bleeding from the face as both men desperately call for help.

The footage captures the fear and uncertainty they faced as they waited for rescuers to reach them.

At one point, the workers invoke Lord Hanuman while trying to keep hope alive.

"Bajrangbali, if you want to keep us alive, then get us out of here," one of them can be heard saying.

The exact duration for which the two men remained trapped remains unclear.

While Manik survived and later received treatment at a government hospital, the condition and identity of the second man seen in the video could not be independently confirmed at the time of publication.

DEATH TOLL RISES TO 16

The warehouse collapse has emerged as one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the state in recent years.

As of Saturday afternoon, the confirmed death toll had risen to 16. Around 17 injured people were undergoing treatment at various medical facilities.

Rescue teams from multiple agencies continued search and recovery operations at the site amid fears that more victims could be trapped beneath the rubble.

The collapse occurred at an under-construction warehouse in the Taratala area, triggering a massive emergency response.

SIT PROBE UNDERWAY, SIX ARRESTED

Following the tragedy, the West Bengal government ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) has been constituted by Kolkata Police to examine the circumstances that led to the collapse.

So far, five people directly associated with the construction work have been arrested in connection with the case.

Police have also arrested a former Officer on Special Duty to former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim as part of the investigation.

Authorities are examining whether lapses in construction practices, permissions or safety standards contributed to the collapse.

As investigators continue to piece together what went wrong, Manik's video has emerged as one of the most haunting reminders of the human cost of the disaster, capturing the terrifying moments when survivors feared they might never make it out alive.