Haryana firm head arrested for failing to fix the tilted Bagajatin flat

Abhishek Nagra, the head of a Haryana-based engineering firm, was arrested on Monday morning by the Netaji Nagar police in connection with the recent incident of a tilted flat in Bagajatin. Nagra's firm had been assigned the responsibility of correcting the tilt of the building in Vidyasagar Colony, which had been leaning before the intervention. Despite the firm's efforts, the building’s condition worsened, leading to increased risk for the residents. Nagra was arrested after a search was carried out in Haryana following his involvement in the failed repair attempt.

The tilt in the building was first noticed by the residents of the Vidyasagar Colony flat, who informed the promoter about the issue. In response, the promoter assigned the task of rectifying the tilt to Nagra's firm. On January 14, the situation deteriorated after the firm's intervention. The company attempted to use a car-lifting machine to straighten the building, a technique that was unsuitable for the soil conditions in the area, as reported by residents. The machinery used failed to stabilize the building and instead caused further instability, resulting in additional danger for the residents.

Firhad Hakim, the Minister of Municipal Affairs for Kolkata, visited the site and confirmed that the municipality had not been informed about the project. Hakim stated that the necessary structural engineering consultations were not conducted prior to the work being carried out. He also pointed out that the work was undertaken without the required approvals from the municipal authorities. Hakim emphasized that the engineering fault and lack of consultation with experts contributed to the failure of the project and the worsening of the situation.

Following the arrest of Nagra, the investigation into the role of his engineering firm in the incident continues. The police are probing the actions of the company to determine the extent of the negligence and any violations of safety protocols. Earlier, promoter Subhash Roy was arrested and remains in police custody. Authorities are working to ensure that those responsible for the safety of the building’s residents are held accountable. Nagra is expected to be brought to Kolkata on transit remand for further questioning.