Kolkata, June 25: The recent collapse of a warehouse roof in the Taratala area was attributed to poor construction practices, substandard materials, and faulty planning, according to a report from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation submitted to the commissioner on Thursday.
The report indicates that the blueprint for the construction on 54 katha of land was approved in February 2025, leading to the erection of a three-story building. Regulations stipulate that iron casting work should commence from the first floor; however, in this case, it began from the third floor, resulting in a structure that could not bear the weight.
Additionally, the materials used for casting were of inferior quality. The three-story structure was erected without a proper foundation or adequate reinforcement at the lower levels, which led to the incident on Thursday afternoon.
The report also noted that the construction plan was approved for only 43 out of the 54 katha of land. Investigations revealed that construction was being carried out on an additional 5 katha of land beyond the approved plan. Builders had illegally expanded the warehouse’s dimensions.
The building department’s report stated that there was no error in the original design; however, negligence in oversight by relevant authorities and those involved in the construction was evident. The report further highlighted that a lack of personnel has hindered the monitoring of such construction projects.
The collapse in Taratala resulted in the deaths of nine workers, with 20 others injured. The injured were admitted to SSKM Hospital, with two reported to be in critical condition.
So far, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The police have registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including involuntary manslaughter and attempted involuntary manslaughter.
To investigate the matter further, the Kolkata police have formed a special investigation team.
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