A tragic incident struck Bhatpara on Tuesday morning when a house collapsed in the Rustam Gumti area of Ward 18 under Bhatpara Municipality, resulting in the death of a young woman. The deceased, identified as 23-year-old Khushboo Khatoon, was trapped under the debris and succumbed to her injuries.
Local residents revealed that the house had been in a dangerous and weakened condition for several days. Despite visible signs of instability, no preventive measures were reportedly taken, leading to the sudden collapse around 7 am today. Panic gripped the neighborhood as locals rushed to rescue efforts before authorities arrived.
Upon receiving the information, a team from Jagaddal police station swiftly reached the site. Officials cordoned off the area and started a preliminary investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the collapse in this densely populated locality.
Authorities are currently probing whether negligence played a role and are questioning local municipal officials about the house's condition and any prior warnings issued. Meanwhile, the body of Khushboo Khatoon has been sent for post-mortem examination.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who are demanding stricter inspections and immediate action against unsafe buildings in Bhatpara to prevent such tragedies. Municipal and police officials have assured a thorough investigation into the matter.