Kolkata rain: Woman killed as 200-year-old structure collapses in Jorabagan

A 200-year-old building in Kolkata’s Jorabagan collapsed early Tuesday morning during heavy rain, resulting in the death of an elderly woman named Urmila Shaw. The three-story structure had been previously deemed unsafe by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), yet families still resided there. At around 5 am, a loud crash echoed as a substantial portion of the deteriorating building crumbled.

Rescue teams from the Kolkata Police, disaster management department, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) swiftly arrived on the scene and managed to evacuate several individuals. Unfortunately, Urmila Shaw, who was among the rescued, succumbed to her injuries.

The incident underscores the escalating safety concerns in Kolkata and neighboring areas, where incessant monsoon rains are exacerbating the condition of aging and weakened structures. Similar collapses have been reported in Howrah and Bhabanipur in recent weeks. On Monday, part of a century-old building in Howrah also collapsed, trapping its elderly resident.

Fire department officials and Howrah Police collaborated to extricate the man by cutting through iron window bars. In Bhabanipur, an antiquated library building also partially collapsed recently.

Despite numerous municipal warnings, many residents continue to inhabit buildings classified as hazardous. This raises questions about whether authorities should take proactive measures, such as relocating families living in vulnerable structures. The KMC currently monitors over 2,500 structures marked as insecure or dangerous, with approximately 150 categorized as extremely vulnerable and at risk of collapsing during monsoon spells.

Administrative measures have been implemented, yet enforcing compliance in bustling trading and residential hubs like Jorabagan (Borough IV) and Burrabazar remains challenging due to deep-rooted urban, legal, and economic factors.