Eight 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. and the under-construction building came crashing down on nearby shanties. Those who died were residents of these shanties.
Two women — Shama Begam (45) and Hasina Khatoon (60) — were reported dead at a private health facility at Metiabruz on March 17. Akbar Ali (34), Rizwan Alam (23), Md. Wasik (19), Md. Imran (27), Ramzan Ali (55) and Nasimuddin (24) were declared dead at the State-run SSKM Hospital on March 18.
After the overnight rescue efforts, there were reports of few people buried in the rubble and rescue workers were trying to reach to them. Eighteen persons sustained injuries of which five have been discharged and 13 were undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital and at a private health facility in Metiabruz.
Located in south-western part of the city along the banks of Hooghly river, Garden Reach is densely populated and high-rises have sprung up without any planning.
“A five storied under construction building somehow collapsed and fell on some adjacent tile shed shanties resulted in the casualties and injuries to inhabitants of the affected slums and those who were near the ground floor of the building,” a statement by Kolkata Police said.
Mamata Banerjee visits spot, announces compensation
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday morning reached the accident site 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 of 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.
The problem od illegal construction
Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, State’s Urban Development Minister and local MLA Firhad Hakim said that it was difficult to take stock of illegal construction in every lane. Mr. Hakim said the trend of illegal construction started in the Left Front regime and the officials of the KMC have 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. The 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.
