The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata’s Taratala area climbed to 11 on Friday, while the police laid hands on five persons in connection with the incident as the probe into the devastating incident gathered pace.

A picture from the scene after the collapse

The four-storey warehouse collapsed on Wednesday at around 12:07 pm in the South-west area of the city, prompting numerous emergency agencies to set a major rescue operation. As many as 25 persons were rescued from the rubble during the operation’s initial phase.

CM Suvendu alleges corruption during TMC’s tenure

Addressing the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday, the state’s Chief Minister (CM) Suvendu Adhikari alleged that corruption during the tenure of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the previous ruling party in the state, had contributed to the disaster. He claimed that the building plan was flawed and had been approved by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in exchange for money.

He said, “We have found all the records. What happened is a fallout of your sins. This building plan was sanctioned on January 17, 2026. In exchange of money, you have turned the City of Joy and greater Kolkata into a city of death,” while slamming opposition members in the assembly.

CM announces solatium for kin of victims

In the aftermath of the incident, CM Adhikari announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the kin of the victim and Rs 1 lakh for those injured. Separately, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of victims and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Five held, probe picks pace

Meanwhile, the police have swooped down on warehouse owner Shambhu Nath Behera, project supervisor Gulzar Hussain, structure fabricator Kamal Samanta, labour supplier Dibakar Samanta and project broker Abdul Hamid, who allegedly facilitated approval of the construction project.

CM Adhikari also named three KMC engineers, Aminur Sheikh, Nirmalendu Sardar and Ranjan Das responsible for the catastrophic incident, saying they failed to discharge their duties properly regarding the project. He further alleged that the sanctioned building plan bore the signature of Kolkata’s former Mayor Firhad Hakim, though he did not mention him by name in his address.

Adhikari announced that an audit committee shall be formed and that no building would be allowed to be constructed in the future without a structural audit. He asserted, “There is no chance of letting anyone escape punishment.”