Kolkata, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A nearly 200-year-old building collapsed in north Kolkata early Tuesday following hours of heavy rain, killing a woman and leaving 19 other residents feared trapped under the debris.
The deceased has been identified as Urmila Shaw. The building is located on Brajadulal Street in the Simla-Beadon Street area, near Girish Park and Chittaranjan Avenue.
According to local residents, Shaw was preparing to leave the house for some work early in the morning when the structure suddenly collapsed. She was trapped under the rubble and was later recovered by rescuers and declared dead.
Teams from the West Bengal Fire Services, state Disaster Management Department and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached the site and launched rescue operations to locate and evacuate those feared trapped.
The building, believed to be around 200 years old, has only one entry and exit point. A narrow lane in front of the structure has also made it difficult for rescue personnel and equipment to reach the site.
An eyewitness said residents were startled by a loud noise in the early hours before discovering that the building had collapsed following the overnight rain.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities had reportedly declared the building abandoned some time ago and repeatedly advised its occupants either to vacate the premises or undertake comprehensive repairs to the three-storey structure.
While some residents subsequently moved out, others continued living in the building despite the civic authorities' warnings. Around 20 people were reportedly still residing there.
Among those feared trapped are Shaw's husband and son, according to local sources.
Rescue personnel are continuing search and evacuation operations amid concerns that the death toll could rise as more people are located beneath the debris.
Police and civic officials are also assessing the condition of surrounding structures and the circumstances that led to the collapse.