2 brothers dead as abandoned Entally factory collapses; Mayor orders immediate demolition

Two brothers, Sajidur Rahman and Mujibur Rahman, tragically lost their lives when a section of an abandoned factory in Kolkata's Entally area collapsed on Saturday night. The incident took place at 23 Convent Road, where a factory building, left vacant for almost 40 years, suddenly gave way. The factory had recently been acquired by a private company, but no restoration or safety work had been initiated prior to the collapse.

Sajidur Rahman, who had been serving as the caretaker for the property, reportedly heard loud noises coming from within the structure. Fearing something was wrong, he entered the building to inspect the situation. While inside, a part of the factory’s roof suddenly caved in, trapping Sajidur under the debris. His brother, Mujibur Rahman, rushed to his aid, but the roof collapsed again, trapping him as well. Both brothers were pulled out by emergency responders and rushed to the hospital, where they were declared dead upon arrival.

The building, which had been closed for decades, was in a dilapidated state. The factory had not been operational for many years, and locals reported it had deteriorated significantly over time. The private company that recently purchased the property had not started any renovation or safety measures. Following the incident, the local authorities sealed off the area to prevent further risks. The police and fire department are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and to establish whether the building’s condition or any negligence played a role.

Sajidur’s wife, who was present at the scene, recalled the tragic event, saying, “I came here just yesterday. After the accident, I screamed for help.”  Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the site shortly after the accident. He confirmed that demolition work on the structure would begin promptly on Monday, as the building posed a significant risk to public safety. The mayor also addressed concerns regarding the condition of other abandoned properties in the city. He stated that the building had been unused for many years. He further announced that demolition work on the structure would begin Monday morning to prevent further accidents.