Partial Collapse of Building in South Kolkata, No Injuries Reported
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Synopsis
A four-story building in Bagha Jatin, South Kolkata, partially collapsed, but thankfully, no casualties were reported as it was unoccupied. Local authorities are investigating the potential building code violations that may have contributed to the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Building partially collapsed in South Kolkata
- No casualties were reported
- Local authorities responded swiftly
- Building alleged to have code violations
- Previous similar incidents raise concerns
Kolkata, Jan 14 (NationPress) A four-story structure in the Bagha Jatin locality on the southern fringe of Kolkata partially collapsed on Tuesday morning, leading to widespread concern among nearby residents.
The ground level of the building gave way, causing the entire structure to tilt dangerously against a neighboring edifice.
Authorities from the Kolkata Police and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) confirmed that there were no injuries, as the building was empty at the time of the mishap.
Emergency response teams from the state disaster management agency, KMC, and local police quickly arrived to evaluate the situation.
Debabrata Majumdar, the local MLA representing the Jadavpur Assembly area, along with Mitali Bandopadhyay, a KMC mayor-in-council member, also visited the site.
“I hurried to the scene as soon as I was alerted. The building was in the midst of repairs, and I had instructed the promoter to halt work until further permissions were secured. Regrettably, part of the structure collapsed before that could occur,” Bandopadhyay stated to reporters on-site.
She noted that residents had been relocated recently due to the ongoing repairs, which helped avert a possible disaster. “If anyone had been inside, the outcome could have been catastrophic,” she remarked.
Local inhabitants alleged that the building had been erected in contravention of KMC regulations. They claimed it was constructed on a reclaimed water body and that the fourth floor was added without the necessary approval, despite the initial permit allowing for only three stories.
Debabrata Majumdar confirmed that the building had been standing for over a decade.
Meanwhile, police have secured the area around the building with barriers and restricted entry to ensure the safety of the public.
This incident revives memories of a tragic event last March, when 13 individuals lost their lives due to the collapse of an under-construction building in Garden Reach, also in southern Kolkata. In that case, violations of construction regulations were identified as the main cause.
