Kolkata, Jun 26: The death toll in the Taratala building collapse has risen to 17, as rescue teams continued operations through the night to clear debris and search for survivors.
The multi-storey structure, located in the Taratala area of South Kolkata, crumbled on Thursday evening, trapping dozens of workers and residents inside. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, along with fire brigade and police teams, have been deployed to carry out rescue and relief efforts.
Officials confirmed that 17 bodies have been recovered so far, while several others remain missing. At least 25 people have been rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, many of them in critical condition. Heavy machinery is being used to remove rubble, but narrow lanes and unstable debris have slowed progress.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the tragedy and announced compensation for the families of the deceased. She also directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse, including possible lapses in construction safety and building approvals.
Local residents said the building had shown signs of structural weakness in recent weeks, raising questions about enforcement of safety norms. The incident has sparked widespread concern over illegal constructions and poor monitoring of urban infrastructure in the city.
Rescue operations are expected to continue until all trapped individuals are accounted for, with officials warning that the toll may rise further as clearing work progresses.
