KMC probe: Taratala warehouse built without soil test, 16 killed
Synopsis
Kolkata's deadliest building collapse of the year was not an accident waiting to happen — it was a system failure hiding in plain sight. KMC's own internal probe now confirms construction was approved without a soil-testing report and with no documented structural design, while an OSD to the former Mayor is named as allegedly having pushed the approval through. Sixteen workers paid with their lives.
Key Takeaways
KMC's internal probe found that construction permission for the Taratala warehouse was granted before the mandatory soil-testing report was submitted.
The mandatory structural design was also not documented during construction, the probe found.
A Jadavpur University structural experts committee identified 'fundamental flaws' in the building's design.
Kalicharan Bandopadhyay , OSD to former Mayor Firhad Hakim , has been allegedly linked to the irregularities in the approval process.
The 24 June collapse killed 16 workers and injured more than 15 others in south Kolkata.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced ₹10 lakh each for families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh each for the injured.
An internal probe by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has found that construction permission for the three-storeyed warehouse at Taratala in south Kolkata — whose collapse on 24 June killed 16 workers — was granted before the mandatory soil-testing report had been submitted. The findings, disclosed by a KMC insider on 8 July, point to systemic failures in the corporation's approval process that may have directly contributed to the tragedy.
Key Procedural Lapses Identified
Beyond the missing soil-testing report, the internal investigation also found that the mandatory structural design was not documented during the course of construction. A high-powered committee of structural experts from Jadavpur University, constituted after the incident, reportedly observed 'several fundamental flaws in the design of the structure,' according to the KMC insider familiar with the probe.
'After examining various documents following the incident, several procedural lapses have been identified,' the insider said, adding that the structural committee's findings reinforced concerns about the building's engineering integrity from the ground up.
OSD to Former Mayor Named in Irregularities
Investigators at multiple levels have reportedly identified the involvement of Kalicharan Bandopadhyay, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, in the alleged irregularities. According to the KMC insider, Bandopadhyay allegedly 'influenced the process so that permission for the commencement of construction of the warehouse was granted despite the absence of proper documents and completion of the verification process.' These are allegations at this stage; no formal charges have been publicly announced.
Relief Package for Victims' Families
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced a comprehensive relief package for families affected by the collapse. At a programme held at Nabanna Sabhaghar in the state secretariat, the Chief Minister handed over cheques of ₹10 lakh each to the families of the 16 workers who lost their lives. Those injured in the accident received financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each. The package also includes employment support, free medical treatment, and educational aid for the victims' children.
What Happened on 24 June
The roof of the under-construction warehouse in Taratala, south Kolkata, caved in on 24 June, trapping several workers under the debris. According to official figures, 16 people were killed and more than 15 others were injured. The scale of the casualties triggered immediate demands for accountability and an audit of KMC's building-approval procedures.
What Comes Next
The internal probe's findings are expected to feed into broader accountability proceedings, including potential disciplinary action against KMC officials who cleared the project. The Jadavpur University structural committee's full report is awaited, and it could form the basis for criminal or civil proceedings. Scrutiny of KMC's approval pipeline for other under-construction projects in the city is also likely to intensify in the aftermath.
Point of View
Not just the bureaucratic one. Unless KMC audits its entire active approvals pipeline and institutes independent third-party structural verification, the next Taratala is already under construction somewhere in the city.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the KMC internal probe find about the Taratala warehouse collapse?
The KMC internal probe found that construction permission for the Taratala warehouse was granted before the mandatory soil-testing report was submitted, and that the mandatory structural design was not documented during construction. A structural experts committee from Jadavpur University also identified fundamental design flaws in the building.
Who has been named in the Taratala warehouse collapse irregularities?
Kalicharan Bandopadhyay, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, has been named in the alleged irregularities. According to a KMC insider, he allegedly influenced the approval process to grant construction permission despite missing documents. These remain allegations; no formal charges have been publicly announced.
How many people were killed in the Taratala warehouse collapse?
The collapse of the under-construction warehouse in Taratala, south Kolkata, on 24 June killed 16 workers and injured more than 15 others, according to official figures.
What relief has been announced for the victims' families?
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a relief package that includes ₹10 lakh each for the families of the 16 deceased workers and ₹1 lakh each for the injured. The package also covers employment support, free medical treatment, and educational aid for the victims' children.
What happens next in the Taratala warehouse collapse investigation?
The internal probe findings are expected to inform disciplinary and potentially criminal proceedings against KMC officials. The full report from the Jadavpur University structural experts committee is still awaited, and scrutiny of KMC's broader building-approval process is expected to intensify.
