Mamata assures stern action against illegal construction

 She directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal to take action against those involved in the illegal construction of the five-storey building which collapsed around midnight in the area.

PTI, March 18, 2024 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited Garden Reach area in the city, where an under-construction building collapsed, leaving two persons dead and at least seven people injured.  

She directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal to take action against those involved in the illegal construction of the five-storey building which collapsed around midnight in the area.

Banerjee also visited the hospital where the injured persons are undergoing treatment. 

“This is a very congested area. This building had no sanction from the authorities and it was illegal. I have told the CP and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to take action,” she told reporters after taking stock of the situation. 

Banerjee with her forehead bandaged visited the place. She suffered an injury on her forehead on Thursday evening and underwent stitches.

The chief minister said that her government stands by the families whose shanties were damaged in the building collapse.

She also said that two persons were killed in the building collapse and five to six people might still be trapped under the debris. 

“This is Ramzan month and this incident happened. I extend my condolences to the bereaved families,” she added.

This was Mamata’s first public appearance after she fell at her home and suffered injuries on Thursday evening. She also underwent stitches. 

The Chief Minister with her bandaged forehead visited the building collapse site this morning. She said the authorities should have been more vigilant when the illegal construction was going on. Admitting that illegal constructions in the area were rampant, Hakim said, "It has been a trend here and also in some other areas since the Left Front era."

He also admitted that there could have been a "lapse on the part of the officials" for failing to monitor whether constructions in the locality were being made in accordance with law. Hakim said: "It is not the job of the local councillor but of the civic body officials to inspect whether constructions are taking place according to sanctioned plans from Kolkata Municipal Corporation or not." 

The Chief Minister, meanwhile, expressed her distress over the incident and urged the administration to take necessary action against those involved in the illegal construction. "The government stands by the affected families," she said. State Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose said the rescue operations are underway on a war footing and those trapped under the debris would be brought out soon.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the spot and took stock of the rescue operations. According to locals, who were the first responders, concrete chunks fell from the building before it collapsed. There was a loud sound and a thick cloud of dust engulfed the area as soon as the building collapsed. The debris fell on nearby shanties in the densely populated area, they said. 

"Although no one lived in the under-construction building, it collapsed on the adjacent shanties. We fear that many individuals might still be trapped under the rubble," said a resident. In a post on X last night, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said: "I urge @chief_west,Secretary @HomeBengal, @CPKolkata to immediately involve West Bengal State Disaster 

Management Team for immediate Rescue &Relief." "I am receiving frantic calls regarding probable casualties. Please dispatch any team which can help in rescuing the victims, be it fire servicemen, police or any other team," he said. Adhikari also shared pictures from the building collapse site..