kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 26: The death toll in the tragic shed collapse at Taratala in Kolkata has risen to 15, as rescue teams continued intensive search and recovery operations throughout Thursday night in a desperate effort to locate people trapped beneath the massive pile of debris. A large-scale multi-agency rescue operation involving the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Management Group (SDMG), Kolkata Police, and the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services was carried out on a war footing to clear the wreckage and rescue survivors.

Officials said that rescue personnel worked tirelessly using heavy machinery, specialised equipment, and manual search techniques to remove debris from the collapsed structure. By the latest available reports, a total of 31 people had been pulled out from the rubble. Of them, 15 were declared dead by doctors after being taken to nearby hospitals, while the remaining survivors are undergoing treatment for varying degrees of injuries.

The overnight rescue operation on Thursday, three more bodies were recovered from beneath the collapsed shed and shifted to SSKM Hospital for identification and post-mortem examination. One of the deceased has been identified as Swapan Mondal, a resident of Shyamnagar. According to family members and officials, Mondal had come to Taratala for work on Wednesday, which was reportedly his first day at the site. Tragically, he became one of the victims after the structure suddenly gave way.

The identities of the other two bodies recovered during the operation have not yet been established. Authorities are continuing efforts to identify the victims by coordinating with family members and examining available records.

Mannu Kumar, a resident of Munger district in Bihar, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Trauma Care Centre. Hospital sources said that doctors performed emergency surgery on him late Thursday night in an attempt to save his life. Despite their best efforts, his condition remained critical, and he later passed away, taking the overall death toll to 15.

Rescue teams remain at the accident site as authorities fear that more people may still be trapped beneath the debris. The operation is continuing uninterrupted, with personnel carefully removing rubble to avoid triggering further collapses while maintaining hope of finding additional survivors.

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across Kolkata, prompting an extensive investigation into the cause of the collapse. Officials are examining whether structural weaknesses, negligence, or violations of safety regulations contributed to the disaster. Authorities have assured that those found responsible will face strict legal action once the investigation is completed.