Warehouse Roof Collapses in Kolkata, Killing Eight

Synopsis

An under-construction tea warehouse in Taratala industrial area of Kolkata collapsed trapping between 50 and 60 labourers under heavy iron beams and debris on Wednesday afternoon, June 24. There have been eight fatalities confirmed and several rescued workers are reportedly in critical condition. A multi-agency rescue is under way with the NDRF, Indian Army, Fire Brigade and Kolkata Police teams using cranes and gas cutters to rescue the victims. A control room is in operation at state level at the Nabanna.

The Brace Bridge Work Site will experience roof collapse without warning

The collapse occurred on Transport Depot Road, close to Brace Bridge in Taratala industrial area in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon while work was proceeding on a structure for a tea warehouse. According to initial reports from the site, about 50-60 workers were on-site around the time of the shed's collapse.

According to the scene's report, the workers' cries for help were heard under the debris. Local residents did not wait for the emergency services as some of them started to extract their workers before the police, fire brigade and NDRF teams arrived on the scene.

A Multi-Agency Response Mobilised on War Footing

Indian Army, NDRF, Fire Brigade, Kolkata Police men were on war like footing for rescue operations and cranes and gas cutters were brought in to lift sections of the failed roof.

Extreme care was taken to use gas cutters to be careful not to cause any further injuries to those inside. The neighborhood was packed with residents and a difficult area in which to conduct rescues, officials said.

As of early evening, around 13 workers were rescued and injured were rushed to SSKM Hospital for treatment. Five of those rescued were being described as being in critical condition.

State Minister Indranil Khan reached the spot and stated that immediate attention was focussed on rescue. Operations were also being done at the spot with the presence of Minister Agnimitra Paul, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner Smita Pandey and BJP leader Rakesh Singh.

A control room was established at the state secretariat at Nabanna where the situation was monitored.

The preliminary accounts indicate that a murder-suicide was the cause

Initial data indicate that there was an issue during welding inside the structure. Some residents also thought the roof of the under-construction shed could have been compromised by heavy rain a day before, that led to the roof collapsing.

Work was proceeding but the local accounts state that a beam had begun to shake, and the workers attempted to shore it up. But officials have not yet made a final determination on the technical findings.

The police have opened an inquiry into the incident, to investigate if there was any negligence in the setting up of the iron shed. The officials of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the concerned departments were expected at the site.

A look at the death toll and worker safety

The death toll from the collapse had reached eight and efforts to rescue those trapped continued throughout the evening, with over 30 people feared under thick debris.

Collapses at construction sites can be especially fatal as workers frequently work directly below the newly poured slabs, scaffolding or temporary supports. Any weakness in the temporary support can turn dangerous when the concrete load accumulates.

It will also be necessary for authorities to confirm that all employees at the site were on the register, with attendance records being incomplete and multiple sources of labour often making it difficult to determine the number of people working on site.

The Taratala incident highlights the continued lack of respect for construction workers and the fact that conditions of their worksites are still a contentious issue, a question that investigators will now be forced to address.