Five persons, including two women, were killed and several others were injured after a five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Kolkata’s Garden Reach area late on March 17 night.
The incident occurred about 11.49 p.m. in the night and the under-construction building came crashing down on nearby shanties. Those who died in the collapse were residents of the shanties on which the building came crashing down.
Two women — Hasina Khatoon (55), Shyama Begum (44) were reported dead on March 17 night while three others succumbed to their injuries on March 18 morning at State run SSKM Hospital were identified as Akbar Ali (34), Riwjan Alam (22), and Mohammad Wasim (19).
As many as 15 people were rescued after overnight operations, and 10 of them were admitted to a health facility in Garden Reach area and five at State-run SSKM Hospital. After the overnight rescue efforts, there were reports of few people buried in the rubble and rescue workers were trying to reach to them.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the venue and took stock of rescue efforts. She also met the injured at a nearby health facility. Speaking to journalists, she raised concerns about whether permission was taken for such construction. She added that those constructing high-rises should be mindful that nearby shanties and huts. “I asked the Mayor whether permission was taken for the building. He said no,” Ms. Banerjee said.
“We shall provide compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and for the injured persons. We stand by the distressed families and rescue operations shall continue,” the Chief Minister posted on social media. The State Government announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the deceased and ₹1 lakh to the injured.
After the collapse, locals alleged that the building was constructed illegally and after filling up a waterbody. Questions were also raised as to how a five-storeyed building could be constructed in an area where the approach road was only three feet wide.
Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, State’s Urban Development Minister and local MLA Firhad Hakim said that it was difficult for him to take stock of illegal constructions in every lane. Mr. Hakim said the trend of illegal construction started in the Left Front regime lame for the and the officials of the KMC has to take the blame for the lapse. He added that the promoter behind the construction will be arrested. The Trinamool Congress has been in power at the city’s civic body for the past 15 years.
The development sparked strong reaction from the Opposition parties. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called the collapse “TMC made disaster”.
“Firstly, since 2010, after TMC Party gained control of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), edging out the Left Front, more then 5,000 water bodies have been illegally filled up and converted within the KMC area itself. Clear collusion between Local Councillors, Promoters and Local Police, under the aegis of top TMC Leaders, can be easily witnessed when such water bodies are filled up without facing any legal and administrative hassles,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The BJP leader said that more than 800 such illegal constructions exist in the Garden Reach Area itself. BJP leader and councillor of Kolkata Muncipal Corporation Sajal Ghosh visited the area and was greeted by protests by locals.
Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that instead of indulging in politics the Opposition should stand by the people in distress.
