What is the story about?
A major accident was reported from South Kolkata’s Taratala area on Wednesday after an under-construction factory shed suddenly collapsed, leaving three
workers dead, several others injured and 23 feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred at a factory site where construction work was underway. A total of eight people were taken taken to the Trauma Centre at SSKM Hospital, out of whom three were declared brought dead, while the remaining five were admitted to the Disaster Management Ward on the third floor of the Trauma Centre.
Hospital sources said the injured patients are currently stable.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of casualties, but sources on the ground said multiple workers have sustained injuries, some of them serious. Several others are still feared trapped beneath the collapsed structure as rescue teams continue clearing the wreckage carefully.
Eyewitnesses said a portion of the shed gave way without warning, bringing down heavy iron structures and concrete slabs on workers present at the site. Panic quickly spread in the area as labourers and nearby workers rushed to pull out those trapped.
Local residents alerted authorities immediately after hearing loud noises and seeing dust and debris rising from the site. Disaster response teams were rushed to the spot, and rescue operations were launched on a war footing. Heavy machinery has also been deployed to remove debris and search for survivors.
Police have cordoned off the area to prevent crowding and ensure smooth rescue operations. Senior civic and disaster management officials are also monitoring the situation.
Preliminary information suggests that the shed was still under construction, though it is not yet clear whether safety norms were followed or if structural weaknesses led to the collapse. A detailed investigation is expected once rescue operations conclude.
The incident has once again raised concerns over construction safety standards at industrial sites in Kolkata, especially in densely populated zones where industrial activity often operates alongside residential areas.
More details are awaited as rescue operations continue. Authorities are expected to issue an official statement on the cause of the collapse and the number of people affected in the coming hours.
Control room numbers of Disaster Management opened at Nabanna for the accident at Taratala:
1070
8697981070
033 22143526
033 22535185
