A distressing incident unfolded in the Pathuriaghat area of North Kolkata as a portion of a century-old five-storey building collapsed around 10:30 pm on Wednesday. The incident claimed the life of a woman and left two others injured, including a minor, who have been rushed to Kolkata Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The structure's third floor gave way with a loud crash, trapping three individuals, including the deceased woman, under the rubble. The incident drew immediate attention from nearby residents, who promptly reported the incident to the authorities. Both the Kolkata Police and Fire Department were summoned to the scene to address the situation.
Working tirelessly, the firefighters managed to clear the debris around 3:00 am, recovering the dead body of the woman. The injured survivors were subsequently rescued and transported to the Kolkata Medical College Hospital for medical attention. It has been revealed that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had previously classified the building as hazardous.
The husband of the deceased woman is reportedly in a critical condition. Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the scene upon learning of the collapse, pledging that temporary accommodations would be arranged for the affected tenants in a nearby area.
This unfortunate incident highlights the need for maintaining and ensuring the safety of old structures in urban areas, as well as the swift response and support required during such emergencies.