Kolkata, June 25: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will deliver a detailed statement in the state assembly regarding the tragic incident that occurred in the Taratala area of Kolkata. So far, seven people have lost their lives, and several others are critically injured.
The Chief Minister’s statement is crucial, especially in light of serious allegations against warehouse owner Shambhunath Behera. He is accused of illegally constructing the warehouse with the collusion of certain officials from the previous Trinamool Congress-led Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Shambhunath Behera was arrested by Kolkata police early Thursday. Three other individuals, including the warehouse supervisor Mohammad Gulzar, labor contractor Mohammad Atayul, and Subhash Chaudhary, were also detained for questioning and subsequently arrested.
Concerns regarding the warehouse’s construction had been raised by the workers’ union affiliated with the CPM’s trade union branch. The union had warned officials in a letter dated June 11 that the warehouse posed a risk for accidents. They alleged that notorious mafia figure Asgar was primarily involved in this construction.
Meanwhile, Port Trust officials clarified that the construction was authorized by municipal officials, making it their responsibility to investigate any illegal activities.
Rescue and relief operations have been ongoing for nearly 20 hours following the collapse of the under-construction warehouse in Taratala, Kolkata. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively engaged in the rescue efforts. There are fears that some individuals may still be trapped under the debris.
Using hydraulic cranes, the collapsed structure of the warehouse has been removed. A total of 29 individuals have been rescued from the site, and more than 20 injured persons are currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
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