A roof collapse at an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday, 24 June has killed five workers, with 12 to 15 people still believed to be trapped beneath the debris, according to police and fire brigade officials. Around 40 to 50 workers were inside the 20,000-square-foot structure when the roof gave way at 12.07 pm, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.

Scale of the Collapse

The warehouse, which had no internal walls or partitions, saw its entire roof section collapse in one go — a factor that significantly worsened the impact. Several iron beams buckled under the additional load. Local residents were the first to respond, initiating rescue efforts before police, fire brigade, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams reached the site. A hydraulic crane capable of lifting up to 50 tonnes has been deployed to stabilise the structure and prevent secondary collapse, while gas cutters are being used to clear debris. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service to locate survivors.

Rescue Operations in Full Swing

Personnel from the Civil Defence, Indian Army, NDRF, Fire Brigade, Kolkata Police, and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) are conducting rescue operations on a war footing. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the site earlier in the day alongside several ministers and government officials to supervise the operation, and later visited injured workers at SSKM Hospital in the evening.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Adhikari said: 'About 25 people were rescued from the warehouse. Five have died. The 20 injured have been admitted to the hospital. The condition of two is critical. All the injured are receiving treatment here. Some workers are still trapped. They are alive and we have established contact with them. The rescue operation is going on in full swing. Hopefully, they will be brought out soon.'

Faulty Building Plan Cited, Owners Identified

Chief Minister Adhikari stated that the collapse was caused by a faulty building plan. KMC engineers who assessed the site indicated the plan was structurally deficient, and a detailed technical report was expected later in the day. The building plan had been sanctioned on 17 January this year.

Adhikari named the owners as Behera Brothers and confirmed that action would be taken against them. State Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul also visited the site to oversee rescue efforts. Preliminary information suggests a problem during welding work inside the structure may have contributed to the collapse, though this is yet to be officially confirmed.

Construction Work Suspended Across KMC Zone

In the wake of the tragedy, Chief Minister Adhikari announced an immediate suspension of all construction work at under-construction commercial properties within the KMC area until 31 July. A comprehensive audit of building plans, site plans, and on-site inspections will be carried out during this period. Properties whose documentation is found to be in order will be permitted to resume work from 1 August.

This incident underscores persistent concerns about construction safety oversight in urban West Bengal. Rescue teams continue to work through the night to reach those still trapped, with officials maintaining they have established contact with survivors beneath the rubble.