The structure, spread across nearly 32,000 square
feet, caved in while dozens of labourers were working at the site. Heavy
concrete slabs, steel beams and construction materials trapped several workers
beneath the debris. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, police, civic
authorities and the Army were deployed to search for survivors. Officials
said about 20 injured workers were pulled out and shifted to nearby hospitals,
with some reported to be in critical condition. Authorities fear that more
workers may still be trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts continue around
the clock. The collapse has raised
serious concerns over construction safety standards and regulatory oversight.
Following the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a
temporary suspension of under-construction commercial projects within the
Kolkata Municipal Corporation area until July 31, pending safety reviews and
inspections. An investigation has been launched to
determine the cause of the collapse, including possible structural and
construction-related deficiencies.