Historic Building Collapses in Kolkata, One Woman Dead, 19 Trapped

August 18, 2026

Kolkata, August 18: A portion of a 200-year-old building collapsed early Tuesday morning in North Kolkata after heavy rainfall overnight. The incident resulted in the death of one woman, while 19 others remain trapped under the debris.

The deceased has been identified as Urmila Shaw. The building is located on Brajadulal Street in the Shimla-Bedon Street area, a bustling neighborhood near Girish Park and Chittaranjan Avenue.

According to local residents, Urmila was about to leave her home for an errand when the structure suddenly collapsed, burying her on the spot.

Upon receiving the report, teams from the West Bengal Fire Department, the State Disaster Management Department, and the NDRF rushed to the scene. They are currently working to rescue the 19 individuals trapped beneath the rubble.

This three-story building, approximately 200 years old, had only one entrance. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had previously declared the structure “dilapidated and uninhabitable.” Despite this warning, around 20 people continued to reside there.

The narrow street in front of the building has posed significant challenges for rescue operations.

An eyewitness reported a loud noise in the morning that startled the entire neighborhood. When residents rushed to the scene, they found that the building had collapsed due to the overnight rain. Urmila’s body was discovered under the debris. The KMC was notified, and her body was recovered. It is reported that her husband and son are among the 19 trapped individuals.

KMC officials had previously advised evacuating or fully repairing the building. Some long-term residents heeded the advice and left, but others chose to stay.

KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey stated, “A portion of the building collapsed around 6 AM. The entire structure did not fall. One woman has died. All trapped individuals have been safely rescued, and most of the debris has been cleared. Work is ongoing to remove the remaining rubble.”

The rescue team continues to work diligently to clear the debris and extract those still trapped.