West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari blames 'corruption' and 'bribes' for Taratala collapse, names ex-Mayor Firhad Hakim and 'Kali'

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced that no one will be spared and that his government has a policy of absolute zero tolerance towards irregularities and corruption, while addressing the West Bengal Assembly on the warehouse roof collapse in Taratala. The death toll has risen to nine in connection with the collapse of an under-construction godown in south Kolkata.

Adhikari, slamming the previous government, said: "Through corruption and the taking of bribes, you have turned the City of Joy into a city of the dead (Mrityupuri)."

He announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those who died in the incident, while compensation has also been provided to those injured.


Adhikari said that despite the warehouse having a faulty design, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) granted approval. He also showed documents in the Assembly bearing the signature of former Mayor Firhad Hakim. Hakim was present in the House during the Chief Minister's speech, sitting on the opposition benches led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Bandopadhyay.

The Chief Minister alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government and the former Kolkata Mayor were involved in corruption and irregularities in the sanctioning of buildings. Adhikari also named a person called "Kali", who was allegedly a close aide of the former Kolkata Mayor. The Chief Minister claimed that no building approval was granted without Kali's permission and that money was sent directly to Camac Street, referring to Abhishek Banerjee's office.

"We know what happened in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation during your regime. If we bring Kali into the investigation, everything will come out. No plan was approved by the KMC without Kali. Everyone knows Kali had links with Camac Street. Money was extorted here and sent to Camac Street," Adhikari claimed.

"We have the names of the engineers involved. They include Aminur Shaikh, Sub-Assistant Engineer; Nirmalendu Sarkar, Assistant Engineer; and Ranjan Das, Executive Engineer. They failed to discharge their duties and responsibilities properly. Our fact-finding report has established this. There is no question of letting anyone off," the Chief Minister said.

Reiterating that "no one will be spared", Adhikari told the House while displaying documents: "We will not politicise this issue, but what have you done? No one will be spared. The signature of your former Mayor Firhad Hakim is on these documents."

"It was a faulty design. This was the building plan. All the plans were approved. We have brought out every detail, including the names of the architect, owner and applicant, as well as the proposed total floor area and exempted area," he said.

"There have been multiple incidents, starting with Garden Reach, during the previous regime. You have learnt no lessons and made no corrections. You never called in the NDRF or the Army for rescue operations. In the Garden Reach tragedy, 14 people were crushed to death. You could not rescue a single person alive," Adhikari said while attacking the previous government's record.

The Chief Minister again made it clear that no one involved would be spared.

Criticising former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari said: "While the Assembly session is under way, unlike the previous Chief Minister's attitude of 'Tu Khich Meri Photo' (come and take my picture), I have used this platform to inform the people of West Bengal about the incident, the action taken and the measures we are implementing."

He thanked the Indian Army, NDRF, Civil Defence, Kolkata Police, KMC and others for their role in the rescue operations. More than 24 hours after the collapse, rescue efforts were still continuing, involving the Army, NDRF, Kolkata Police, State Civil Defence and the Fire Department.

Indian Army rescue operations

In a post on X, Eastern Command said: "Eastern Command #IndianArmy rescue teams continued round-the-clock search and rescue operations at the Taratala under-construction godown collapse site in Kolkata. In close coordination with NDRF, SDRF and Kolkata Police, seven specialised Indian Army teams, supported by medical personnel, ambulances and advanced engineering equipment, including cutting machinery and high-intensity illumination systems, remain deployed."

A fully equipped 10-bed emergency medical facility, staffed by medical and surgical specialists, has been established on site to provide immediate care. So far, 31 people have been rescued.

"Rescue operations continue unabated, with all efforts focused on locating and rescuing those still feared trapped under the debris. The Indian Army and Eastern Command remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting the civil administration and all those affected during this challenging time."