Kolkata warehouse collapse death toll rises to 15 as rescue enters third day
Kolkata: The death toll in the Taratala warehouse collapse in south Kolkata climbed to 15 on Friday after two more bodies were pulled out from the debris and two injured workers died during treatment, officials said.
Rescue teams from multiple agencies, including the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Kolkata Police, and the State Disaster Management Group, continued round-the-clock operations for the third consecutive day, carefully clearing concrete slabs and twisted steel from the collapsed structure.
Authorities said the two bodies recovered late Thursday have yet to be identified.
On Friday morning, 19-year-old Mannu Kumar, a resident of Bihar's Munger district, and Sahil Sardar succumbed to their injuries at the state-run SSKM Hospital.
Kumar had been rescued alive from the rubble on Wednesday and underwent surgery before his condition deteriorated.
The tragedy has devastated Kumar's family. His brother, Ghi Kumar, was among those killed in the collapse, while their father remains hospitalised with injuries.
Officials said 18 injured workers are currently undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital.
Rescue personnel believe several more people could still be trapped beneath the debris, prompting search operations to continue despite the unstable condition of the damaged building.
To aid the search, teams have deployed specialised cameras beneath the rubble and are also using mobile phone signal data to help locate individuals whose devices remain active under the collapsed structure.
The Indian Railways has joined the rescue effort after the NDRF sought assistance in cutting through mangled steel sections. Railway personnel equipped with oxy-cutting machines began work after assessing the site.
The warehouse roof on Transport Depot Road in Taratala collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, trapping dozens of workers.
Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the cause of the collapse. The body of the principal contractor, who was among the five people named in the FIR, was recovered from the site.
On Thursday, police also arrested Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, in connection with the incident.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said rescue operations would continue until every section of the debris had been searched.
He also accused the previous Trinamool Congress government of promoting corruption and dynastic politics, while asserting that his administration was focused on development. However, he declined to comment on Bandyopadhyay's arrest.