Part of Historic Kolkata Home Crumbles, No Injuries Reported
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Kolkata, March 3 (NationPress) A section of a 150-year-old structure on Park Street in central Kolkata crumbled on Tuesday morning, raising alarms among locals.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported since the building was uninhabited at the time of the collapse.
Nonetheless, this incident has caused considerable unease among the community.
Residents mentioned that the building had suffered weakening due to the earthquake that hit the city on February 27. Locals reported that part of the roof collapsed unexpectedly.
With Monday being a holiday for Dol Yatra, foot traffic in the area was minimal, likely averting any injuries or casualties.
Neighbors expressed concern, indicating that the building had not been maintained for years and was in a state of disrepair. They suspect that the recent seismic activity exacerbated its already precarious condition.
Many were baffled by how such an incident could occur. Locals noted that the house is at least 150 years old and has deteriorated due to a long-standing lack of renovations.
Authorities from the Park Street police station arrived promptly after receiving notifications and secured the vicinity.
Previous occurrences of old buildings collapsing in the city have heightened concerns regarding the maintenance of aging structures. This incident raises further alarms over the safety of residents in such dilapidated properties.
Despite the efforts of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to raise awareness about structural safety, many buildings remain neglected, and residents often avoid necessary repairs, even in hazardous conditions.
In a separate incident on Monday, a concrete slab collapsed at the Central Park Metro station in Salt Lake, causing momentary panic among commuters and drivers. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
Repair work commenced shortly after, although Metro authorities did not provide a comprehensive statement on the situation.