The death toll from the collapse of an under-construction five-storey building in Kolkata’s Garden Reach area on March 17 has risen to 13, with Mainul Haque succumbing to injuries. Haque, who was undergoing treatment at a city hospital, passed away late Tuesday night after being rescued from the debris and subsequently shifted to S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital.
Criticism has been directed towards the Trinamool Congress-led Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) following the incident. Questions have been raised regarding how the building’s promoter obtained permission for a five-storey structure in the narrow lane of Garden Reach, near the Kolkata dock area. The promoter has been arrested.
Disagreements emerged between city mayor Firhad Hakim and deputy mayor Atin Ghosh regarding the incident. While the mayor stated that identifying illegal constructions was not the responsibility of KMC or the local councilor, the deputy mayor insisted that the corporation cannot evade responsibility. Subsequently, KMC established a seven-member probe panel to investigate the building collapse.
