Officials and others gather during a rescue operation after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed at Taratala area, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Kolkata police on Thursday (June 25, 2026) arrested two people including the structural engineer of the warehouse in Taratala that collapsed on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) killing five workers.
“At about 12:05 p.m., one under-construction wear house at Transport Depot Road in Taratala collapsed and due to such effect few labourers got stuck under the debris, while in hospital five of them were declared brought dead. The rescue operation was conducted by Kolkata Police DMG, KMC personnel, Fire services personnel, civil defence and NDRF. Such an operation is still continuing,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Kunal Agrawal, said.
“After a preliminary investigation, an FIR has been lodged under sections 105/110/3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Taratala polise station. The FIR named six people of whom structural engineer Kamal Samanta, and another Syed MD Gulzar were also arrested,” he added.
A special investigation team (SIT) has also constituted to investigate the matter after it was transferred to the Detective Department of Kolkata police.
Mr. Agrawal said that the SIT will be headed by the DC of the Detective Department of Kolkata Police Commissionerate while comprising six other members. Five workers were killed and several injured as an under-construction warehouse in the Taratala area of Kolkata collapsed on Wednesday.
At least 18 workersare feared to be trapped under the collapsed structure.The accident occurred shortly after noon when the multi-storey warehouse being constructed by a private operator on 6,689 square metres of land leased out by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) came crashing down.
According to those present at the site, 50 to 60 people were at work when the accident took place. Local people said they heard several workers buried under the debris crying out for help. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has called for a stay on all building activities in Kolkata Municipal Corporation till an audit is completed on July 31.
Attempts were made to drill a hole through the debris and reach out to the trapped workers, and oxygen and food were made available. The Indian Army joined the rescue operation, mobilising four columns from the Eastern Command.
Published – June 25, 2026 08:47 am IST
