An under-construction godown shed collapsed in the Taratala area of Kolkata on June 24, 2024 [1], killing at least five people [3].
The disaster highlights potential lapses in construction safety and regulatory oversight in West Bengal's industrial zones. The scale of the collapse necessitated a multi-agency response to extract workers trapped beneath the debris.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, state police, and local volunteers led the rescue efforts at the site [2]. The operation focused on clearing the wreckage of the warehouse shed to locate survivors and recover bodies. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the scene to oversee the emergency response [2].
Reports on the casualty count varied during the initial hours of the operation. Some sources said there were three deaths [4], while other reports confirmed five people died [3]. Additionally, 20 people sustained injuries in the collapse [3].
Authorities said they have called for a neutral probe into the incident [5]. The investigation will examine the building's approval process, and the specific construction practices used during the project, to determine why the structure failed [5].
Emergency teams continued to work through the wreckage to ensure no other workers remained trapped. The site remains under the control of the NDRF and state police as the probe begins [2].
“An under-construction godown shed collapsed in the Taratala area of Kolkata”
The demand for a neutral probe suggests a lack of confidence in standard municipal inspections. If the investigation reveals that the structure lacked proper permits or bypassed safety codes, it may trigger a wider audit of under-construction industrial sites across Kolkata to prevent similar structural failures.
