A private warehouse under construction in West Bengal’s Taratala area west of Kolkata collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, trapping at least 40 workers under its rubble, police said.
Police said the building, which had an area of several hundred square meters, collapsed between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
The rescue operation is being conducted by the police, army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Cranes and gas breakers are used to remove steel and concrete girders.
By 3pm, 13 workers had been rescued and taken to the state-run SSKM Hospital, police said.
Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul and Health Minister Dr Shardwat Mukherjee, among others, rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation.
“The previous (Trinamool Congress) government allowed illegal constructions. But this is not the time to look into it. We have to first rescue those trapped under the rubble,” Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports Dr Indranil Khan said.
