Kolkata building collapse kills 1, 19 trapped in 200-year-old structure
Synopsis
A 200-year-old condemned building on Brajadulal Street in north Kolkata crumbled in the early hours of 18 August after overnight monsoon rains, killing one woman and trapping 19 others — including her husband and son. The KMC had declared it abandoned and repeatedly urged residents to leave, but 20 people were still living inside when it fell.
Key Takeaways
A nearly 200-year-old building on Brajadulal Street , north Kolkata, collapsed on 18 August following heavy overnight rain.
Urmila Shaw was killed; her body was recovered from the rubble by local residents.
19 residents, including Shaw's husband and son, remain feared trapped under the debris.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had previously declared the structure abandoned and repeatedly urged residents to vacate.
NDRF , West Bengal fire services, and the state disaster management department are conducting rescue operations, hampered by a narrow access lane.
A nearly 200-year-old building on Brajadulal Street in north Kolkata collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 August, killing one woman and leaving 19 residents feared trapped beneath the rubble. The three-storey structure, located near Girish Park and Chittaranjan Avenue in the Simla-Beadon Street neighbourhood, gave way following a night of heavy, unrelenting rainfall across the city.
The Victim and Those Still Trapped
The deceased has been identified as Urmila Shaw, who was reportedly stepping out of the building for an errand when the structure came down. She was found under the debris by local residents and was declared dead after her body was recovered. Her husband and son are among the 19 individuals still feared trapped inside, according to reports.
Rescue Operations Under Way
Personnel from the West Bengal fire services department, the state disaster management department, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the site shortly after the collapse and launched rescue operations. However, the work has been significantly hampered by the geography of the location — a narrow lane in front of the building that restricts the movement of heavy rescue equipment and teams.
A Condemned Building That Was Still Occupied
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had declared the building abandoned well before Tuesday's incident, and civic authorities had repeatedly urged the remaining residents to either vacate the premises or undertake thorough structural renovation. While some residents heeded the warnings and left, others — reportedly 20 people in total — continued to live in the structure. The building had only a single entry and exit point, compounding the difficulty of the rescue effort.
Fears of a Rising Death Toll
With 19 people still unaccounted for beneath the collapsed structure, authorities have not ruled out a rise in the death toll. Eyewitnesses described hearing a sudden loud noise that jolted the neighbourhood awake, followed by the sight of the building coming down. Local residents were the first to spot Urmila Shaw's body and alerted the KMC. Rescue teams are continuing to work through the debris as fears mount for those still trapped.
This incident underscores a recurring crisis in Kolkata's older neighbourhoods, where centuries-old buildings — many in advanced states of disrepair — continue to be inhabited despite civic warnings. The monsoon season routinely accelerates structural deterioration, and Tuesday's collapse is unlikely to be an isolated event this year.
Point of View
Issued repeated evacuation notices, and then apparently took no enforceable action when residents stayed. That sequence — warning without consequence — is a pattern seen across north and central Kolkata's heritage-era housing stock. Every monsoon season stress-tests these structures, and every year the city is surprised when one fails. Until civic bodies are empowered and required to physically relocate occupants of condemned buildings, not merely advise them, the death toll will keep accumulating one collapse at a time.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Kolkata building collapse occur on 18 August?
The collapse occurred on Brajadulal Street in the Simla-Beadon Street neighbourhood of north Kolkata, near Girish Park and Chittaranjan Avenue. The nearly 200-year-old three-storey structure came down in the early hours of Tuesday following a night of heavy rainfall.
Who was killed in the Kolkata building collapse?
The deceased has been identified as Urmila Shaw, a resident of the building who was reportedly stepping out for an errand when the structure collapsed. Her body was recovered from the rubble and she was declared dead at the scene.
How many people are still trapped in the Kolkata building collapse?
As many as 19 residents are still feared trapped beneath the debris, including Urmila Shaw's husband and son. Rescue teams from the NDRF, West Bengal fire services, and the state disaster management department are working to reach them.
Had the Kolkata Municipal Corporation warned residents about the building?
Yes. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation had declared the building abandoned well before the collapse and had repeatedly asked residents to either vacate the premises or carry out thorough structural renovation. Despite these warnings, around 20 people continued to live in the structure.
What is making the rescue operation difficult?
A narrow lane in front of the collapsed building is significantly restricting the movement of rescue teams and heavy equipment. The building also had only one entry and exit point, further complicating evacuation efforts.
