Panic gripped Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday afternoon when the roof of an under-construction warehouse came crashing down. The massive structure, spread over roughly 20,000 square feet, was reduced to a heap of rubble in seconds, and the fear that around 50 workers lay buried beneath it shook the entire city. In the aftermath, the site echoed only with screams and sobs. To save the lives trapped under concrete and heavy iron beams, teams from the Army, NDRF and the fire department threw themselves into the rescue with everything they had.
Because the structure was enormous, the weight of the debris is equally crushing. Workers are pinned beneath thick iron beams and heavy layers of concrete. Rescue teams say voices can still be heard from within the rubble, with people pleading to be saved, a sound that is wrenching for everyone listening. Small holes have been bored into the debris to channel air to those trapped inside, buying them a little more time to breathe. Every passing moment here is proving agonising.
50 to 60 Workers Were On Site When It Fell
At the moment the roof gave way, around 50 to 60 workers were on the job. The anguished cries rising from under the rubble are shaking everyone present at the spot. As soon as word of the accident spread, local residents, police and relief teams rushed to the scene.
Nabanna Issues Helpline Numbers
Treating the disaster with full seriousness, the state government has swung into action. A special control room has been set up at Nabanna, the state secretariat. Helpline number 1070 has been issued for information about the injured and the trapped. People can also reach out on 8697981070, 033-22143526 and 033-22535185. The government has made it clear that there will be no slackness in the relief work.
Tunnelling Through to Reach the Trapped
Given the situation, Army and NDRF units were summoned to the spot at once. Using hydraulic drilling machines, cranes and gas cutters, the rescue teams have begun digging a tunnel to reach those buried under the debris. The cutting of heavy iron beams and slabs of concrete jammed in the rubble is going on without pause. So far, 14 people have been safely pulled out and admitted to the trauma care centre at SSKM Hospital.
Emergency Care Ready at Hospitals
A team of specialist doctors has been deployed at SSKM Hospital to treat the injured. Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam said the hospital is fully prepared on every front. Some of the injured are said to be in extremely critical condition. Dozens of ambulances are standing by at the site so that any injured person can be rushed straight to hospital without losing a moment. The Minister of State for Health also visited the trauma centre to take stock of the situation.
Sniffer Dogs and Drones Join the Search
Despite the darkness of night and the crushing weight of the debris, the rescue work has not stopped. Advanced drones and sniffer dogs are being used to pinpoint exactly where people are trapped. At the site, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda and senior officers are monitoring every update minute by minute. The only prayer on everyone's lips is that the lives buried under the rubble come out alive.
Rescue Operation to Continue Through the Night
Even after nightfall, the pace of the rescue has not slowed. The administration has installed large generators and flood lights at the site so there is no shortage of light. With the help of sniffer dogs, teams are trying to determine who else may still be buried under the debris. Officials say the operation will continue at full strength until the last worker has been brought out safely, and no stone will be left unturned.
Questions Over Negligence
Local residents allege that gross negligence was involved in the construction of this warehouse. Work had been going on here for the past year and a half, but there were no solid safety arrangements in place. The structure had begun to shake from Wednesday morning itself, and workers had complained about it, yet the work was kept going. The land is said to belong to the Port Trust and had been given to a private tea company. The biggest question now is how such a large building could collapse. A high-level inquiry into the matter has been ordered so that those responsible can be handed the strictest punishment.
