Kolkata: West Bengal government has adopted a strict stance after the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Taratala area of Bengal. After the death of five people and injuries to many people in the accident, the state government has decided to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the buildings under construction in the surrounding areas including the capital Kolkata. Along with this, a temporary ban on all under-construction projects has been announced till July 31.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say?
Reviewing the situation after the incident, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that it is necessary to investigate the safety and legality of the ongoing construction work in the city. He has directed that apart from Kolkata, technical audit of the buildings under construction in Howrah and Bidhannagar should also be conducted, so that any possible danger can be prevented in time.
On the instructions of the government, a special investigation team will be formed under the supervision of the Chief Secretary. This team will include officers from police, fire department, public works department, civil defense and municipal bodies. The team will inspect various construction sites and check structural safety, approved maps and construction standards. Special focus will be on commercial projects and structures built around water bodies.
The Taratala accident took place around 12 noon on Wednesday, when a part of the under-construction warehouse suddenly collapsed. A large number of laborers were working there at the time of the incident. According to preliminary information, 40 to 50 people were feared trapped under the debris. Many people were evacuated during the relief and rescue operation, while the death of five people has been confirmed.
The Chief Minister said that about 20 people were injured. The condition of most of them is stable, although the treatment of some injured is still going on. He indicated that the initial investigation has revealed some questions related to the construction plan and approval process, which will be investigated in detail.
What did the health department officials say?
After the accident, teams of NDRF, SDRF, Police, Municipal Corporation and Indian Army are jointly engaged in relief and rescue work. Health department officials have said that the operation will continue until it is ensured that no person is trapped in the debris.
The government believes that comprehensive inspection of construction sites and review of safety standards will prove to be an important step towards preventing such incidents in future.
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