On Wednesday, a three-story warehouse under construction in the Taratala area of Kolkata collapsed, resulting in injuries to at least 18 individuals, with fears that more may be trapped under the debris. Among the 18 workers rescued and transported to the hospital, four are reported to be in critical condition. A large-scale rescue operation is currently underway to locate and extract those potentially trapped beneath the rubble. The exact number of workers present in the building at the time of the incident remains unclear, but reports suggest that between 40 to 50 individuals may have been inside.

The collapse occurred while workers were engaged in construction activities for a shed, when heavy iron beams and concrete slabs suddenly fell, burying several individuals beneath the wreckage. Immediately following the incident, emergency teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state agencies, arrived at the scene to commence rescue efforts.

To reach those trapped, rescue teams utilized vertical drilling and gas cutters to slice through twisted steel and sturdy concrete. The NDRF deployed sniffer dogs and drones to search for potential signs of life beneath the collapsed structure. Eyewitnesses reported hearing cries for help from beneath the debris, while rescue teams worked diligently to reach those trapped inside. One witness noted that construction was ongoing on the ground floor, while the RCC framework for the first and second floors had already been completed. The entire structure has now collapsed.

A fire department official indicated that the shed fell during concrete pouring operations and did not rule out the possibility of substandard construction materials being used.

Rescue workers are actively using gas cutters to remove twisted iron beams and concrete to access those trapped. A member of the Kolkata Police's disaster management team stated that they are following the cries for help emanating from the rubble, assuring those trapped that they will be rescued soon.