Joint Secretary falls from 4th floor of Khadya Bhavan, critically injured

A  high-ranking government official sustained life-threatening injuries in a horrific staircase accident at  Khadya Bhavan on Monday morning. Indradev Bhattacharya, the Joint Secretary of the Agricultural Marketing Department, reportedly fell from the fourth floor of Block B, landing straight onto the first-floor landing near the ground-floor stairs. The incident occurred around 10:30 am, just as the office was beginning its daily operations, leaving staff members in a state of panic.

Initial reports suggest that Bhattacharya was making his way from his fourth-floor office to the fifth floor to visit the Finance Department. Witnesses described hearing a sudden, deafening thud followed by the sight of the official lying amidst dust and broken office furniture stored near the stairwell. The impact was severe; first responders noted significant trauma to his head and face, with heavy bleeding reported at the scene. He was immediately rushed to SSKM Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition under close medical supervision.

The New Market Police and the Scientific Wing have cordoned off the area to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the fall. While CCTV footage successfully tracked Bhattacharya climbing the stairs, the specific spot from which he plummeted is unfortunately a blind spot not covered by cameras. This has led to several unanswered questions regarding whether the official suffered a sudden bout of illness, such as a heart attack or dizzy spell, or if the cluttered condition of the stairs—filled with broken chairs and tables—contributed to a fatal trip.